A major flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa district has swept away villages, damaged critical infrastructure and forced mass evacuations along the Bhote Koshi river, prompting authorities to warn of possible casualties and further losses. The disaster struck on Wednesday, hitting settlements near the Tibet border, including Syapru Besi and Timure, home to nearly 50,000 people.
District Administrator Narendra Pariyar told Reuters that entire villages and hydropower project sites were being washed away, though officials have not yet provided an estimate of casualties or property damage. Residents living along the river have been urged to move to higher ground, with emergency teams deployed to assist evacuations.
The cause of the flooding remains unclear. However, officials noted that a deadly flash flood along the same river last year was later linked to the draining of a glacier lake, raising concerns about climate‑driven instability in Nepal’s high‑altitude regions. An embedded PTI video showed markets, roads and hydropower facilities destroyed by the surge.
Nepal’s Water Resources Ministry confirmed that the flooding has damaged hydroelectric projects, roads and bridges, disrupting electricity supplies across affected areas. Prime Minister Balendra Shah said rescue and relief teams — including police and military forces — have been mobilised to support operations.
The Bhote Koshi river, which originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal’s Trishuli river before entering India as the Gandak, has a history of destructive floods. A previous disaster destroyed the Friendship Bridge linking Nepal and China, halting cross‑border trade for months.
Authorities have instructed people in low‑lying areas to relocate immediately and urged caution for communities downstream as water levels continue to rise.