A powerful flash flood swept through Rasuwa district in northern Nepal early Wednesday, washing away villages and damaging infrastructure. Authorities fear significant casualties as search operations continue.
A flash flood struck Rasuwa district in northern Nepal on Wednesday morning, destroying villages and critical infrastructure across the region north of Kathmandu. Officials attribute the disaster to melting snow that accumulated in the Bhote Koshi river, which originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal. The flooding has left authorities struggling to assess the full extent of the damage, with Rasuwa district chief Narendra Pariyar telling BBC Nepali that while severe consequences are anticipated, early estimates remain uncertain.
Rescue efforts have begun across the affected areas, with 12 people rescued so far as military and civilian teams conduct ongoing search operations. However, the situation remains dire. Thirteen armed police officers are reported missing from two posts in Rasuwa district, and authorities have been unable to establish contact with dozens of additional officers stationed in the region. Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency meeting and announced coordination efforts involving medical personnel, volunteer scouts, and the Red Cross to respond to the crisis.
Districts downstream from Rasuwa have been placed on high alert as officials warn residents near vulnerable riverbanks to take precautions. The disaster management authority is closely monitoring the situation for potential secondary impacts. Notably, officials indicated to BBC that the scope of this week's flooding appears to exceed last year's deadly floods in the same district, which killed 18 people following a glacier burst on the Chinese side of the border. Rasuwa, a crucial transit point along Nepal's primary trade corridor with China, faces significant logistical and humanitarian challenges in the coming days.
