Nepal-Tibet Border Floods Kill More Than 150
Devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border have killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing, according to officials in both countries. The disaster has affected several Himalayan districts north of Kathmandu, with major flooding reported along the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi rivers.
Nepal’s Tourism Board reported 403 people missing, including 341 foreign nationals and 62 Nepali citizens. Travel companies said the missing foreigners included citizens of India, Canada, Britain, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States. The U.S. Embassy urged people in affected districts to avoid riverbanks and low-lying areas, move to higher ground, and follow instructions from local authorities.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah met lawmakers to review damage, settlement conditions, and relief operations. His office said security forces had expanded search and rescue work. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said 79 security personnel were unaccounted for and 13 military and private helicopters were supporting rescue efforts. Police listed 49 hospitalized people, including a three-month-old infant reported to be in stable condition.
Floodwaters swept away buildings, nine bridges, and nearly 40 kilometers of road, officials said. Authorities warned that flooding could continue downstream and closed part of the Prithvi Highway, a major route linking Kathmandu and Pokhara. The closure could complicate transportation and access to affected communities.
Across the border in Tibet, a mudslide near the Gyirong checkpoint killed at least three people and left 265 missing, according to Chinese state media. President Xi Jinping ordered extensive rescue operations, stronger monitoring, and measures to prevent secondary disasters.
Images and videos shared by authorities and others showed powerful currents engulfing structures and destroying infrastructure. Some footage had not been independently verified. Rescue teams from both countries continued searching for survivors while officials assessed the scale of damage and the risks of further flooding and landslides across the region amid continuing severe weather conditions.
