APF’s Timure Team Lost 13 Colleagues. It Never Abandoned the Post

When the Bhotekoshi River burst into Timure with mud, rocks and debris, 13 Armed Police Force personnel disappeared. The flood tore through the China-Nepal border settlement within minutes, sweeping away homes, offices and infrastructure. The APF suffered its heaviest loss there.

Nine of the missing personnel served at the Timure Border Outpost, including Inspector Ambir Khatri and Sub-Inspector Prakash Neupane. Four others came from the security base at the Trishuli Hydropower Project in Mailung. The outpost itself was cut off. Electricity and telephone services failed, and even the APF’s walkie-talkie system stopped working.

For nearly 24 hours, the outpost was reportedly the only government facility still standing in the area. Those inside knew only that their commander and other colleagues were missing. Assistant Sub-Inspector Tambahadur Thapa Magar then assumed command, moved the remaining personnel to safety and held the team together.

The border post continued its duties, including security along the China-Nepal border and efforts to control smuggling and customs evasion. An additional APF team arrived from Dhunche the following day under Inspector Sanju Khatri and remained in Timure to support the search. The APF says rescuers have recovered 98 bodies from the area.

The operation also produced a rare moment of hope. On the evening of August 28, rescuers heard what sounded like a child crying beneath the mud. After hours of digging, they found six-year-old Manisha Uchhai Magar alive, 62 hours after the flood. A fallen wooden structure had left part of her head exposed. Rescuers brought her to the outpost, where they gave her first aid and food before an Army helicopter took her to Dhunche. She was later transferred to Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital for treatment.