Monsoon Floods Devastate Nepal-China Border, Miteri Bridge Collapses
A flash flood in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River sweeps away the Miteri Bridge and 18 people, disrupting a key trade route with China.
A catastrophic flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River, triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Tibet, obliterated the Miteri Bridge connecting Nepal and China at Rasuwagadhi, Rasuwa district, early Tuesday, leaving 18 people missing, including six Chinese nationals, authorities reported.
The flood, which struck around 3:15 am, 120 km northeast of Kathmandu, also swept away several houses, cargo containers, and approximately 200 vehicles, including electric vehicles parked at the Rasuwa dry port for customs clearance. Arjun Paudel, Rasuwa’s chief district officer, described the damage as “significant,” with sections of the Pasang Lhamu Highway eroded, severing connectivity.
A joint rescue operation by the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police saved 11 people, including two officers, but ongoing bad weather is hampering efforts to locate the missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) confirmed the toll, urging downstream residents to evacuate.
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The bridge’s destruction has halted trade through this vital route, forcing reliance on a longer alternative via India. Police suspect heavy rainfall in Tibet caused the surge, though the exact trigger—possibly a cloudburst or glacial lake outburst flood—remains under investigation.
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