A sudden flash flood and mudslide on the Nepal‑Tibet border has claimed 17 lives, with rescue teams scrambling to save stranded residents amid collapsed roads and disrupted communications.
The disaster struck the Rasuwa district early Wednesday when melting snow fed the Bhote Koshi River, creating a sudden torrent that devastated villages along the upper reaches of the river. Police say the flood swept away several villages, destroyed roads and damaged infrastructure.
Search operations are underway on both sides of the border, with 12 people rescued so far. Nepalese and Chinese media report that the flooding has caused extensive casualties and that the scale of the disaster may exceed last year’s flood, which killed 18 people when a glacier burst on the Tibetan side.
Police spokesman Abhi Narayan Kaphle told BBC that all security agencies were coordinating rescue efforts. Meanwhile, Nepal’s disaster‑management authority urged residents in the flood‑prone area to remain alert and take precautions.
The main road to Kathmandu is closed and road, communication and power links have been disrupted. Chinese businessman Yee Liang, whose logistics company operates seven container trucks in the area, reported losing contact with all his staff due to a lack of signal.
Guan Daoxuan, a construction worker from Sichuan province, had lost contact with his wife on the Tibetan side as strong winds hampered a helicopter inspection. He described the situation as extremely serious with no prior warning.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced on social media that "work is underway to coordinate with the medical team, scouts and Red Cross" after an emergency meeting. He also said 13 police officers from the armed police force were missing from two posts in Rasuwa, and that dozens of other officers were unreachable.
