Kathmandu, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A sudden flash flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to settlements and infrastructure near the Nepal-China border and leaving nine Armed Police Force (APF) personnel unaccounted for.
The flood struck the Timure area at around 9 a.m. after a large volume of water entered the Bhote Koshi from the Tibet side. APF officials said the border outpost at Timure remained intact, but the personnel deployed on duty could not be contacted. Search and rescue efforts are underway.
The flooding has caused major damage in Timure, Syabrubesi and other areas of Rasuwa, with reports of houses, shops, roads and other structures being swept away or damaged. The full extent of casualties and property losses has not yet been confirmed.
The sudden surge has also damaged power infrastructure. The Nepal Electricity Authority said several hydropower projects, substations and transmission structures in the affected corridor have been impacted, disrupting electricity supply in parts of the region.
Preliminary information from Nepal’s Independent Power Producers’ Association indicates that 15 hydropower projects, including 10 operational and five under construction, have been affected.
Officials believe the flood may have originated on the Tibetan side of the border rather than from heavy rainfall in Nepal. Satellite information and other data are being examined to determine the exact cause, including the possibility of a glacial lake outburst flood.
The floodwater has moved downstream through the Trishuli River towards Nuwakot and Dhading, with authorities warning communities further downstream, including in Gorkha and Chitwan, of possible flooding.
The Flood Forecasting Division has urged residents and businesses along the Trishuli River, including vulnerable settlements near the Prithvi Highway and the Muglin-Narayangadh corridor, to move to higher ground and avoid unnecessary travel.
The Nepal Army, APF and Nepal Police have mobilised rescue teams, while helicopters have been deployed to assess the affected areas and support evacuation and relief operations. The government has also placed emergency resources on standby as authorities continue to assess the damage.
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