At least 17 killed as flash flood sweeps part of Nepal‑Tibet border
At least 17 people have been killed after a massive flash flood and mudslide along the Nepal‑Tibet border washed away villages and damaged roads and infrastructure, according to police.
The flood hit early on Wednesday in Rasuwa, just north of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, reportedly caused by excessive snow melting into the Bhote Koshi river.
Search operations are underway on both sides of the border between Tibet and Nepal and 12 people have been rescued so far.
State media in China, controlling Tibet, say there are significant casualties and Nepalese officials anticipate "huge scale loss".
Nepal Police spokesman Abhi Narayan Kaphle told the BBC that all security agencies were working together on rescue efforts.
Videos show floodwater crashing through villages.
Several areas downstream of the Bhote Koshi river are on high alert and roads, communications and power in the region have been disrupted. The authorities say the main road to Kathmandu is closed.
"Our logistics company has seven container trucks there, all staffed by Nepalese employees. We have lost contact…", said a Chinese businessman in Kathmandu.
“There was no warning…this one seems much more serious.”
The extent of the damage on the Tibetan side is unclear but a Canadian‑based businessman said his wife was missing late Wednesday.
Officials have called on river‑bank residents to remain alert and take precautions.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that work had started to take necessary steps in coordination with the medical team, scouts and Red Cross.
Authorities said 13 armed police officers were missing from two posts in Rasuwa district and could not contact dozens of other officers.
Rasuwa saw a deadly flood last year that killed 18 people after a glacier burst on the Chinese side of the border. Officials now believe the scale of this Wednesday's disaster exceeds last year's floods.
