Nepal flash floods kill at least 157, nearly 400 remain missing

Devastating flash floods surged down Nepal's Bhotekoshi river on Wednesday, killing at least 157 people and leaving nearly 400 unaccounted for. Foreign nationals and security personnel are among those missing after the mid-morning deluge wreaked havoc across three districts.

The disaster swept away homes, vehicles, and critical infrastructure, marking one of Nepal's deadliest events in recent years. The flood was triggered when an avalanche blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi, striking Timure near Nepal's border with China. The water then surged downstream towards Syaphrubesi and other settlements.

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India's HADR and medical assistance has reached Kathmandu. More assistance is being mobilised to support relief efforts.

Officials at Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology suggested an ice avalanche and the subsequent formation and bursting of a debris lake may have caused the sudden flood. An initial study analyzing satellite images indicated a glacier-inclusive flood occurred due to a snow-rock landslide on the Nepal-China border.

The floods caused extensive damage, destroying nine hydropower projects and nine commercial bank branches. Nineteen motorable bridges and approximately 40 kilometers of highway were also swept away, according to a preliminary assessment. Meanwhile, India has begun mobilizing humanitarian assistance, dispatching 10 tonnes of relief material including essential medicines and shelter items.

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An initial study based on the analysis of satellite images by Planet Labs indicates that a glacier-inclusive flood occurred in the Lhende River due to a snow-rock landslide that took place on the Nepal-China border approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the Nepal-China Rasuwagadhi border crossing.