Hundreds missing, including 291 foreign tourists, after deadly flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border
Flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border swept through Rasuwa and downstream areas, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower projects as rescue teams searched for hundreds of people reported out of contact.
A massive flash flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River has left 384 tourists and travellers reported missing or out of contact, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens, according to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board.
Among the foreign nationals listed as missing are 105 Indians, making India the largest identified foreign nationality in the preliminary list. The Tourism Board said the figures are still being verified with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.
The disaster struck the Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border on Wednesday morning after a sudden surge of water entered the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibetan side. The flooding then moved downstream into the Trishuli river system, affecting areas in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
384 travellers remain out of contact
The Nepal Tourism Board’s preliminary record was compiled using information received from 10 major tourism and travel agencies.
The list includes 291 foreign travellers and 93 Nepali nationals. Apart from the 105 Indians, the foreign travellers include people from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands, while some nationalities are still being confirmed.
The Tourism Board has stressed that being listed as missing does not necessarily mean the people are confirmed dead. Authorities are working to establish contact and verify the whereabouts and safety of those who were travelling through or staying in the affected areas.
The preliminary agency-wise record includes large groups of travellers connected with trekking, tourism and pilgrimage operators, highlighting the scale of the disruption in one of Nepal’s important travel corridors.
At least eight people confirmed dead as rescue operation expands
The human toll has also continued to rise as rescue teams gain access to affected areas.
Different official and media updates during Wednesday reported at least seven to nine deaths, with Reuters later reporting at least nine deaths as rescue operations continued. The final toll remains subject to change because several affected areas are difficult to reach.
At least 25 people had been rescued by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Nepal Army spokesperson cited by The Kathmandu Post. Nepal has deployed the Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police for search-and-rescue operations, with 14 helicopters deployed for the response.
Search teams are also using drones and other equipment to locate people in areas where roads and bridges have been washed away.
32 police personnel also reported missing
The disaster has affected security forces deployed in the border region.
Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Abinarayan Kafle said 32 police personnel were still missing, while nine Armed Police Force personnel deployed in Timure near the Nepal-China border were also reported out of contact. Police stations and security facilities in the affected region were damaged by the flood.
The loss of communication with several locations has made it difficult for authorities to establish the full scale of the disaster.
Pilgrims among those whose families are waiting for news
The affected region is also an important route for travellers heading toward Tibet and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route.
Nepali media reports have indicated that a significant number of pilgrims were among those who could not immediately be contacted after the flood. Some reports put the number of pilgrims whose contact had been lost at around 25 in preliminary updates, although the broader Tourism Board list covers hundreds of travellers and is still being verified.
This has added another layer of urgency to the rescue effort, as families and travel operators wait for confirmation about the safety of those travelling in the region.
Bhote Koshi flood moved rapidly downstream
The flooding was first reported in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa at around 8:30–9 a.m. local time.
The river originates in the Himalayan region and the sudden surge entered Nepal from the Tibetan side before moving downstream toward the Trishuli river system. Authorities subsequently issued warnings along the Trishuli corridor, extending as far as Mugling.
The exact cause of the sudden surge remains under investigation.
Officials have examined the possibility of a landslide, glacial lake outburst or another sudden release of water upstream, rather than a conventional rainfall-driven flood. Authorities have said the cause has not yet been conclusively established.
Rasuwa and Timure among the worst-hit areas
The areas around Timure, Rasuwagadhi and Syapru Besi have suffered some of the most severe destruction.
Floodwaters swept through market areas, roads, vehicles and buildings. The Rasuwagadhi border crossing, an important Nepal-China trade and travel route, was also heavily affected.
Images and videos from the area show the speed and force of the flood, with muddy water and debris moving through settlements within minutes.
Downstream communities have also been hit. In Trishuli Bazaar, around 60 houses were reportedly swept away and two motorable bridges were destroyed, according to local reporting.
Roads and bridges washed away
The flooding has caused major damage to Nepal’s transport network.
The Department of Roads said preliminary assessments indicated that at least 19 bridges and around 40 kilometres of roads had been damaged or washed away. Heavy equipment has been sent to affected locations as authorities begin efforts to restore connectivity.
The damage is particularly significant because the affected roads connect communities, tourism destinations and the Nepal-China border.
The disruption could also complicate the rescue operation because some affected settlements can no longer be reached easily by road.
Hydropower projects damaged
Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure has also suffered extensive damage.
Several hydropower projects along the affected river system were damaged or washed away. Reporting from Nepal indicates that operational projects with a combined capacity of hundreds of megawatts have been affected, adding pressure to the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The damage includes major facilities in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot areas, while other power infrastructure and transmission systems have also been disrupted.
The flooding therefore represents not only a humanitarian emergency but also a major infrastructure and economic shock for Nepal.
Why Bihar is also on alert
The flood has raised concerns beyond Nepal because the Trishuli River eventually connects with the Gandak river system, which flows toward India.
As water moves downstream, authorities in Nepal have warned communities along the river corridor to remain alert. Indian authorities have also increased preparedness in parts of Bihar, particularly along areas vulnerable to rising water levels in rivers receiving flow from Nepal.
Reports from Bihar said authorities were preparing disaster-response teams in vulnerable districts along the Gandak system.
This means the impact of the Nepal disaster is being closely watched on the Indian side of the border as well.
Rescue teams face difficult conditions
The rescue operation is being complicated by damaged roads, unstable terrain, high water levels and disrupted communications.
Helicopters have been deployed, but landing in some of the worst-hit locations has been difficult. Rescue teams are therefore relying on a combination of helicopters, security personnel, local residents, drones and ground teams.
Authorities have urged people living close to the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers to move toward safer and higher ground and avoid travelling along riverbanks.
What authorities are doing now
The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police are continuing search-and-rescue operations across the affected districts.
The Nepal Tourism Board is separately coordinating with travel agencies, guides, tourist police, local authorities and security agencies to verify the 384 names on its preliminary list.
For families, the most important point is that the list remains preliminary. Authorities are still trying to establish contact with many travellers, meaning the number of people ultimately confirmed safe, missing or deceased could change as communication is restored.
The situation remains fluid
The Bhote Koshi flash flood has already caused major loss of life and widespread destruction across northern Nepal. But the full scale of the disaster is still emerging.
With 384 travellers reported out of contact, including 105 Indians, security personnel also missing, villages and infrastructure destroyed, and floodwaters moving downstream, rescue and verification efforts are likely to remain the priority through the coming hours.
Authorities in both Nepal and neighbouring India are monitoring river levels closely as teams continue searching for people caught in the disaster.
