At least 31 people have died so far, the BBC reported citing unnamed Nepali officials. There has also been widespread damage to infrastructure, including roads and power plants. Visuals showed unstoppable torrents of water and mud tearing through villages and buildings. One particularly shocking video showed a wall of muddy water submerging a six-storey building on the Chinese side of the Rasuwagadhi crossing.

6 hydropower and transmission facilities damaged

The Nepal Electricity Authority said six major hydropower and transmission facilities had been damaged. Estimates suggest around 430 MW of electricity supply - over 12 per cent of total hydropower capacity - has been affected.

What caused the flash flood

Foreign Minister Shisir Kanal reportedly told lawmakers an earthquake triggered an avalanche of ice and rock that caused the floods. "An earthquake occurred at 8.37 am and, due to it, a large landslide occurred, blocking the river, which appears to have caused the flood. The US Geological Survey registered a 4.4-magnitude quake in the region at the time Khanal mentioned.

PM Modi speaks to Nepal's Balen Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah shortly after the tragedy struck and expressed his condolences. India will stand by Nepal in this hour of need, the Prime Minister assured his counterpart. Two Indian Air Force planes - a C-17 and a C-130, both transport aircraft , are on standby, while aid packages are being prepped for dispatch.

Bihar, UP on high alert

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are on high alert amid fears the Gandak River - which flows along Nepal's border with Bihar and UP - could also overflow. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the destruction as 'extremely alarming'.

All 36 gates of Gandak Barrage opened

All 36 gates of the Gandak barrage at Bihar's Valmikinagar have been opened as a precaution, a state Water Resources Department official said. District officials in the river basin are on alert and ensure adequate availability of flood-response materials, while teams from the national and state disaster response forces are on standby.

Mudslide wiped out road, communications in China

Meanwhile, China's Xinhua news agency said a mudslide wiped out road, communications, and power links to the Shigatse region. President Xi Jinping ordered search-and-rescue ops after villages on the Nepal border were also hit.

Nepali military deploys rescue helicopters

Called to action, the Nepali military has deployed rescue helicopters but these cannot land in affected areas like Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous Rasuwa district. Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet told Reuters the choppers cannot land till water levels of the Bhotekoshi River recede.

Basnet also said 88 people have been rescued so far, with troops trying to rescue another 115 from the village of Mailung. He told the BBC that 15 helicopters had been mobilised for search-and-rescue.

Bhotekoshi flooded last year, 9 died

The Bhotekoshi River originates in Tibet and flows for around 100 km before joining another river - the Trishuli - and eventually crossing into India as the Gandak River. The river flooded last year as well, and nine people were killed. A 'friendship bridge' to China was washed away. The destruction disrupted trade and transport for months.

157 dead, more than 100 Indians missing after deadly Nepal flash floods | 10 points

Houses and roads were swept away in Nepal while ⁠officials in Tibet said they feared "major casualties" after a mudslide hit a border crossing.

By: Express Web Desk

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Aug 26, 2026 11:59 PM IST

rasuwa, nepal flash floods, flash floods,

Debris lies scattered after a sudden and massive flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River, killing four people, in Rasuwa, Nepal. (Handout via PTI Photo)

At least 157 people were killed after flash floods on the Bhotekoshi River – triggered by an earthquake – laid waste to parts of Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. The floods caused widespread devastation; visuals showed walls of muddy water and debris crashing through multi-storey buildings and tearing through villages.

The Nepal Tourism Board said 291 foreign nationals – of whom 105 are Indians and the rest Nepalis – are among 384 people still missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to his Nepali counterpart, Balen Shah, and offered condolences and support. Two Indian military planes carrying aid and relief material will be sent.

Several Indian citizens working at the Tishuli hydroelectric project are also missing in the aftermath of flash floods, sources have told The Indian Express. They add that communication network in the area remains disrupted and it is difficult to establish contact with people in the affected areas. The exact situation of Indian workers and technical experts employed at Tishuli project is being ascertained.

The Nepal flash floods have also set alarm bells ringing in border states Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers feed into the Gandak river system that runs deep into the latter state. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has warned his administration to stay alert, as has his UP counterpart, Yogi Adityanath.

01
31 deaths so far
At least 31 people have died so far, the BBC reported citing unnamed Nepali officials. There has also been widespread damage to infrastructure, including roads and power plants. Visuals showed unstoppable torrents of water and mud tearing through villages and buildings. One particularly shocking video showed a wall of muddy water submerging a six-storey building on the Chinese side of the Rasuwagadhi crossing.
02
6 hydropower and transmission facilities damaged
The Nepal Electricity Authority said six major hydropower and transmission facilities had been damaged. Estimates suggest around 430 MW of electricity supply - over 12 per cent of total hydropower capacity - has been affected.
03
What caused the flash flood
Foreign Minister Shisir Kanal reportedly told lawmakers an earthquake triggered an avalanche of ice and rock that caused the floods. "An earthquake occurred at 8.37 am and, due to it, a large landslide occurred, blocking the river, which appears to have caused the flood. The US Geological Survey registered a 4.4-magnitude quake in the region at the time Khanal mentioned.
04
PM Modi speaks to Nepal's Balen Shah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah shortly after the tragedy struck and expressed his condolences. India will stand by Nepal in this hour of need, the Prime Minister assured his counterpart. Two Indian Air Force planes - a C-17 and a C-130, both transport aircraft , are on standby, while aid packages are being prepped for dispatch.
05
Bihar, UP on high alert
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are on high alert amid fears the Gandak River - which flows along Nepal's border with Bihar and UP - could also overflow. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the destruction as 'extremely alarming'.
06
All 36 gates of Gandak Barrage opened
All 36 gates of the Gandak barrage at Bihar's Valmikinagar have been opened as a precaution, a state Water Resources Department official said. District officials in the river basin are on alert and ensure adequate availability of flood-response materials, while teams from the national and state disaster response forces are on standby.
07
Mudslide wiped out road, communications in China
Meanwhile, China's Xinhua news agency said a mudslide wiped out road, communications, and power links to the Shigatse region. President Xi Jinping ordered search-and-rescue ops after villages on the Nepal border were also hit.
08
Nepali military deploys rescue helicopters
Called to action, the Nepali military has deployed rescue helicopters but these cannot land in affected areas like Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous Rasuwa district. Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet told Reuters the choppers cannot land till water levels of the Bhotekoshi River recede.
09
Nepal Army saves 88
Basnet also said 88 people have been rescued so far, with troops trying to rescue another 115 from the village of Mailung. He told the BBC that 15 helicopters had been mobilised for search-and-rescue.
10
Bhotekoshi flooded last year, 9 died
The Bhotekoshi River originates in Tibet and flows for around 100 km before joining another river - the Trishuli - and eventually crossing into India as the Gandak River. The river flooded last year as well, and nine people were killed. A 'friendship bridge' to China was washed away. The destruction disrupted trade and transport for months.

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