Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Nepal Flash Floods From Tibet Kill Eight, Damage Power
A sudden flood rushed through northern Nepal on Wednesday morning.
The water reportedly came from the Tibetan side of the border and entered the Bhote Koshi River.
At least eight people have died.
Many people are still missing, including police and armed police personnel.
Reports give different numbers for the missing armed police personnel, including seven and nine.
Videos showed bridges, houses, buses and other structures being swept away.
Six major power and hydropower facilities were damaged, disrupting electricity supplies.
The Nepal Army and Nepal Police are rescuing people and checking the damage.
Officials told people living near rivers to move to safer places.
At least eight people have died after flash floods swept through northern Nepal on Wednesday morning.
The Bhote Koshi River flooded areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, reportedly after water came from Tibet.
Reports say 26 Nepal Police personnel and seven Armed Police Force personnel remain missing; another report cited nine missing armed police personnel in Timure.
The floods damaged bridges, houses, roads, settlements and power infrastructure, including six major hydropower and transmission facilities.
Nepal Army and police teams are conducting rescues, while Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency disaster-management meeting.
- Who
- At least eight people have died, while Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel are among those reported missing. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Prime Minister Balendra Shah are involved in the response.
- What
- A flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River caused deaths, missing persons and extensive damage to settlements, roads, bridges and power infrastructure.
- When
- The flooding began around 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning.
- Where
- The worst-reported damage was in Rasuwa district, including Timure and Syabrubesi, with flooding and deaths also reported in Nuwakot and Dhading. Areas along the Trishuli River basin were placed on alert.
- Why
- The Nepal Army said a sudden rise in water levels caused the flooding; reports said the flood originated on the Tibetan side of the border. Seasonal monsoon conditions also regularly trigger floods and landslides in the region.
- Deaths
- At least eight bodies have been recovered from Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
- Affected river
- The Bhote Koshi River, which originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal’s Trishuli River.
- Missing personnel
- One report cited 26 missing Nepal Police personnel and seven missing Armed Police Force personnel; another cited nine armed police personnel missing in Timure.
- Power damage
- The Nepal Electricity Authority said about 430 megawatts of production capacity were damaged.
- Damaged facilities
- Six major hydropower and transmission facilities, including Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Trishuli 3A and Devighat, were damaged.
- Infrastructure impact
- Floodwaters damaged bridges, houses, roads and settlements, and several highways were closed.
- Response
- The Nepal Army and Nepal Police deployed helicopters, rescue teams and other disaster-response resources.
- Government action
- Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
