At least eight people were confirmed dead and thirty-three security personnel remain missing following catastrophic flash floods in northern Nepal on Wednesday, according to local media reports. Triggered by record rainfall and melting snow on the Tibetan plateau, the sudden deluge swept through vulnerable mountain villages in the Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts without prior warning.
Central Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Binarayan Kafle confirmed that rescue teams recovered eight bodies from Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Furthermore, communication has been lost with twenty-six Nepal Police officers and seven members of the armed forces stationed in the heavily impacted Rasuwa region.
The raging floodwaters severely damaged the historic Miteri Bridge connecting Nepal and China, while large sections of the Pasang Lhamu highway collapsed, completely severing road links to the capital, Kathmandu. The infrastructure damage has severely hampered initial emergency response and logistical support for isolated communities.
The disaster has also dealt a heavy blow to the national grid, with at least six major hydroelectric facilities and transmission lines along the Bhote Koshi river basin sustaining extensive damage. Officials reported that roughly twelve percent of the nation`s total power generation, amounting to four hundred thirty megawatts, has been knocked offline, triggering widespread power outages.
In response to the escalating crisis, Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency cabinet meeting and ordered police, armed forces, and military units to launch immediate rescue operations. However, rugged terrain and relentless adverse weather conditions have prevented rescue helicopters from landing safely in the hardest-hit zones.
Local administrative authorities have issued strict evacuation warnings for residents residing along the banks of the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Meteorological services warned that persistent rainfall in the mountainous terrain could further exacerbate the disaster as rescue teams continue their exhaustive search operations.
