A flash flood struck Nepal’s mountainous Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on August 26, washing away villages and power infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi River. The flood was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche that blocked a tributary, the Lhende Khola, releasing a sudden surge downstream around 9 a.m. local time [1].
Rasuwa district, home to about 50,000 people, was the worst affected area. Authorities reported power outages and road damage across the region [2, 1]. District administrator Narendra Pariyar said the flood caused "heavy casualties or loss of property," though exact numbers remained uncertain initially [2]. Nepal Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said, "We do not exactly know the extent of damage, but the flood is big, and it could have damaged many settlements" [2].
At least 72 bodies have since been recovered and 41 injured people are hospitalized in various local hospitals, according to Nepal Police [3]. Earlier reports had cited 8 deaths, but the latest figure reflects a growing death toll [1, 3]. Hundreds remain missing, including 384 tourists — 291 of them foreigners from India, Malaysia, the UK, and the US — caught in the disaster zone [1].
Authorities issued evacuation orders on August 26, urging residents near the Bhotekoshi and other rivers to move to higher ground or avoid the flood-prone areas [2, 1]. Local rescue operations have been intensified, with Nepal asking India and China to assist in search and rescue efforts. Police spokesman Kafle said, "We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts," a request echoed by government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel [1].
The flood echoes similar Himalayan disasters, including one in August 2025 caused by a glacial lake overflow in Tibet that killed nine people [1]. Officials are continuing rescue operations and damage assessments in Rasuwa and surrounding districts affected by the flood.
Search and rescue efforts remain underway as authorities work to locate missing persons and restore services disrupted by the flood.
