Nepal-China Border Flood Sweeps Away Border Crossing

Catastrophic Flood Devastates Nepal-China Border

Glacier collapse triggers massive torrent of water, mud and rocks

A catastrophic flash flood has devastated the Nepal-China border, sweeping away buildings, vehicles, roads and a major border bridge. The disaster struck the Rasuwagadhi area of Nepal and nearby Gyirong on the Chinese side on August 26, leaving a trail of destruction across a remote Himalayan valley.

Video footage from a CCTV camera in Gyirong captured the terrifying moment when a huge wall of water, mud, rocks, boulders and ice suddenly surged down the valley. The footage showed the torrent appearing at around 10:59 a.m. local time before rapidly engulfing structures near the border crossing.

Major Border Infrastructure Destroyed

On the Nepalese side, the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal and China was swept away. Nepal's immigration and customs facilities were also destroyed, while the nearby settlement of Timure suffered extensive damage. On the Chinese side, large sections of the border complex in Gyirong were also reportedly wiped out.

Researchers said seismic instruments detected movement in the mountains above the border at around 8:37 a.m. Nepal time. Nepal's Centre of Hydrology and Water Resources Research later linked the signal to the collapse of part of a glacier, which triggered the devastating flood. Chinese authorities said the resulting mudslide reached the border crossing within about seven minutes.

Hundreds Missing After Sudden Disaster

The exact number of people caught in the disaster remains unclear. Nepalese immigration records show that 89 Nepali and foreign nationals had completed procedures to leave Nepal for Tibet, while four people had registered to enter Nepal. However, officials acknowledge that immigration records do not show where travellers were located when the flood struck.

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The area was reportedly extremely busy that morning. A senior immigration assistant said between 300 and 400 people could have been waiting around the crossing, while other travellers were arriving from the Chinese side. Four employees of the Nepalese immigration office went missing, including the head of the office, whose body was later recovered downstream.

Indian Nationals Among Those Missing

The disaster has raised particular concern in India because many Indian pilgrims and travellers were in the region. India's foreign ministry has said at least 275 Indians remain missing in Nepal, according to the report. Among the people recorded leaving Nepal that morning were 32 Indians, along with Chinese and American nationals and citizens from several other countries.

A group of Indian pilgrims travelling after a Mount Kailash journey was also reportedly unaccounted for after the flood. Some travellers had communicated with family members shortly before the disaster. Messages and photographs sent from the border stopped shortly before the flood struck, leaving relatives waiting for information.