A severe flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district has resulted in at least eight fatalities and the disappearance of 41 security personnel, while a mudslide at a key China-Nepal border crossing in Tibet has also caused significant casualties and missing persons. The floods on the Bhote Koshi River have led to widespread destruction of villages, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure, with rescue operations actively underway. Authorities suspect a glacial burst or an upstream event in Tibet as the cause and have urged communities along the river to remain vigilant.

A severe flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district has resulted in at least eight fatalities and the disappearance of 41 security personnel, while a mudslide at a key China-Nepal border crossing in Tibet has also caused significant casualties and missing persons. The floods on the Bhote Koshi River have led to widespread destruction of villages, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure, with rescue operations actively underway. Authorities suspect a glacial burst or an upstream event in Tibet as the cause and have urged communities along the river to remain vigilant.

A severe flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district has resulted in at least eight fatalities and the disappearance of 41 security personnel, while a mudslide at a key China-Nepal border crossing in Tibet has also caused significant casualties and missing persons. The floods on the Bhote Koshi River have led to widespread destruction of villages, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure, with rescue operations actively underway. Authorities suspect a glacial burst or an upstream event in Tibet as the cause and have urged communities along the river to remain vigilant.

At least nine people were killed after a massive flash flood swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district, while 41 security personnel remain missing as rescue operations continue in the affected areas.

At least 400 travellers, including foreign nationals, are missing according to Nepal's tourism board. In a statement on X, the board said, “A preliminary agency-wise record received from tourism and travel companies has identified 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, who were reported missing from the affected areas.”

The missing persons include travellers from India, Australia, The Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Malaysia. Around 105 Indian nationals are among the missing travellers.

Many people are also feared dead and missing after a mudslide struck a major border crossing between China and Nepal in Tibet's Gyirong County on Wednesday. Chinese state media said that the flood caused major casualties on the Tibetan border.

Out of the missing security personnel, 32 are reportedly from the Nepal Police, and nine belong to the Armed Police Force, following the sudden flood in the Bhote Koshi River.

The deluge caused structural damage to the Timure market and Syapru besi areas near the Tibet border. District officials said that the flood struck at around 9 am local time. The flood washed away villages and damaged roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

More than 50 people were rescued so far.

The Nepali Army said that the sudden rise in water caused widespread destruction in Timure in Rasuwa district and the nearby Syafrubesi area, with vehicles, goods and other property washed away,

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah urged communities along the river to remain vigilant, saying, “People along the river are advised to exercise extra caution and remain alert." The Prime Minister's Office has said that Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel have been mobilised in Rasuwa for rescue and relief activities.

Nepal's army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said that the rescue helicopters cannot land in the affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure until the waters recede, Reuters reported.

An advisory was issued to people living along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts to remain alert.
Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the flood. The sudden rise in water level is believed to have been caused by a glacial burst or another upstream event in Tibet.

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