What Happened?
A sudden surge of melt‑water in Rasuwa district, just north of Kathmandu, turned the Bhote Koshi river into a raging torrent. The flood poured through villages, trapping 12 people and killing 17 others across the Nepal‑Tibet border.
Search teams from both sides of the border are combing the area, but the main route to Kathmandu remains closed due to damaged roads and communications. China’s Tibetan authorities report “significant casualties.” Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called the crisis a “huge scale loss.”
The nearest major city to the flood site is Kathmandu, though the highway is blocked. Local businesses report loss of contact with workers inside the affected area. The storm’s force even prevents helicopters from reaching the site, hampering rescue flights.
Key Facts
- 17+ fatalities confirmed; 12 rescued so far.
- Flood triggered by snow melt into the Bhote Koshi river.
- Main road to Kathmandu closed; communications down.
- Cross‑border rescue teams working under severe weather.
- Similar 2025 flood in Rasuwa killed 18 people.
Officials urge people living near the river banks to stay alert and follow safety guidelines while the disaster response team continues its relief efforts.
