Kathmandu, Aug 2026 : A sudden flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River on Wednesday morning caused widespread damage across Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border, with four personnel of the Armed Police Force (APF) reported missing.
APF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Netra Bahadur Karki said the four personnel, deployed at a border outpost in northern Rasuwa, have remained out of contact since the sudden surge in the river.
“The border post itself has not been damaged,” Karki said, adding that authorities were still trying to establish whether the missing personnel had been swept away or were stranded elsewhere.
Local media have also reported, though without official confirmation, that 14 employees of the Rasuwa Customs Office are out of contact following the flooding.
The sudden rise in the Bhote Koshi River began at around 9 a.m. and caused extensive damage to infrastructure in several areas of Rasuwa. The surge is believed to have originated in the Tibet region, although authorities are still investigating its exact cause.
The Timure market area, Timure Customs Office and parts of Syabrubesi near the Nepal-China border were among the locations reportedly hit by the flood. Roads, hydropower facilities, electricity transmission infrastructure and substations were also damaged.
The Nepal Electricity Authority said several major power installations had been affected. These include the Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Trishuli-3A and Trishuli-3B hydropower projects, the 220 kV Trishuli-3B Hub substation, the Trishuli and Devighat hydropower plants and several electricity distribution structures.
Damage to the power infrastructure has resulted in electricity outages in affected areas. The authority said emergency efforts were underway to assess the damage and restore electricity supply as quickly as possible.
Authorities urged consumers to remain patient while restoration work continues and appealed to stakeholders to help circulate verified information regarding the power situation.
The Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal said preliminary assessments indicated that around 15 hydropower projects, including both operational and under-construction facilities, had been affected by the flood. Ten of the affected projects are operational, while five remain under construction.
Officials have also expressed concern about the possibility of further flooding downstream. The Bhote Koshi eventually joins the Trishuli River, placing communities in Nuwakot and other central Nepal districts at potential risk as floodwaters move downstream.
Hydrological experts are examining whether the disaster was caused by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Tibet rather than intense rainfall in Nepal. A GLOF occurs when water accumulated behind a glacial lake is suddenly released, potentially producing a rapid and destructive surge downstream.
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and local authorities are coordinating with Chinese counterparts to investigate the source of the sudden increase in water levels. Satellite data is also being examined to determine whether a glacial lake breach or another event triggered the flooding.
High-alert warnings have been issued for settlements along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts.
Residents living in low-lying areas and near riverbanks have been advised to immediately move to safer and elevated locations. Authorities have also urged people to avoid unnecessary travel along the Prithvi Highway and other riverside routes while emergency and rescue operations remain underway.
District-level disaster management authorities have mobilised emergency resources and are coordinating rescue efforts in the affected areas.
The situation remains under close watch as authorities assess the extent of the damage, search for missing personnel and monitor water levels along downstream sections of the river system.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
