Key facts
- A catastrophic flash flood occurred at the Nepal-China border on August 26.
- The flood was triggered by a glacial collapse.
- The Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal and China was swept away.
- Nepal's immigration and customs facilities at Rasuwagadhi were destroyed.
- An unknown number of people, potentially thousands, remain missing.
- Satellite imagery and CCTV footage reveal the scale of destruction.
A catastrophic flash flood, triggered by the collapse of a glacier, devastated the remote Nepal-China border crossing on August 26. The torrent of water, mud, ice, and rock surged down the valley, sweeping away buildings, vehicles, and the crucial Friendship Bridge that links Nepal and China. Nepal's immigration and customs facilities at Rasuwagadhi were obliterated, and the trading settlement of Timure was also heavily impacted.
The disaster occurred around 10:59 AM local time, with seismic instruments detecting movement in the mountains shortly before the flood. The mudslide reportedly reached the border crossing from its origin in approximately seven minutes. Nepal's immigration system recorded its final transaction less than 10 minutes before the flood appeared on CCTV footage.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear, but estimates suggest thousands may have been caught in the deluge. Over 275 Indians are reported missing in Nepal, and at least 100 Indians may have been at the crossing when the flood struck. Among the foreign nationals recorded leaving Nepal that morning were 32 Indians, 12 Chinese nationals, and nine Americans, along with citizens of Britain, Canada, Australia, and Italy. A group of 77 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation returning from Mount Kailash were also unaccounted for.
Tika Ram Pokharel, a senior immigration assistant at Rasuwagadhi, was the only known survivor from his office, having been in Kathmandu for an exam. He described the crossing as unusually busy that morning, with an estimated 300 to 400 people waiting to leave Nepal for Tibet, in addition to those arriving from China. Pokharel believes the actual toll could be significantly higher than official figures, estimating that between 2,000 to 2,500 people might have been caught in the flood.
The border area is described as geologically vulnerable, with deep gorges and fast-flowing rivers prone to carrying heavy sediment and large boulders. The route is an important passage for pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash and traders between Nepal and China.