A deadly flood that struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Tuesday morning has caused severe loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. The flood, triggered by an overflow from the Lhende River on the Chinese side, swept away the Miteri Bridge, completely severing the road connection between Nepal and China.
It also inflicted heavy destruction on the Timure customs area near Rasuwagadhi. According to Nepal Police, nine bodies have been recovered so far, while over 20 individuals remain missing. The flood carried away 20 people from the customs yard, located about 1.5 kilometers downstream from the Miteri Bridge.
Only one of the victims has been identified, and search and rescue operations are still underway. Human remains and body parts have been found in districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan.
Both Nepali and Chinese nationals are among those affected. The body of Police Assistant Inspector Lal Bahadur Shrestha was recovered from the Trishuli River in Chitwan, while two other police officers are still missing.
A total of 383 personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army have been deployed, successfully rescuing 57 individuals, including 31 airlifted by helicopter. The flood also swept away 24 containers, 35 customs-cleared vehicles, and six trucks from the customs yard.
Furthermore, around 16 kilometers of roadway and three hydropower projects have suffered significant damage. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority is currently collecting detailed data, and the concerned ministries will release the official damage assessment soon.
