Floods Kill 9, 19 Missing, Bridge Destroyed in Nepal-China Border

Monsoon floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district have caused significant devastation, killing at least nine people and leaving 19, including Chinese nationals and police personnel, missing after the Friendship Bridge—a crucial trade link with China—was swept away. Rescue operations have been ongoing, with more than 150 people rescued and airlifted to Kathmandu, despite disruptions to electricity and telephone services complicating efforts. The flood also damaged key infrastructure including the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Plant and parts of the Dry Port near the Nepal-China border. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli has directed intensified rescue and relief efforts and visited the affected area. The floods, possibly caused by a glacial lake outburst near the border rather than heavy rainfall, have halted all cross-border trade through the Rasuwagadhi route, forcing goods to be rerouted through India. This event highlights Nepal's vulnerability to climate change-induced extreme weather, as the monsoon season regularly brings destructive flooding and landslides in the region.