Floods destroy Nepal-China bridge, 9 dead

At least nine people have died and 19 others are missing after monsoon-induced floods destroyed Nepal’s main bridge linking the country to China, authorities said on Wednesday. Rescue operations are ongoing along the swollen mountain river.

Police confirmed that dozens of rescuers have been deployed to the affected area, with additional teams expected to join the operation. According to the Rasuwa District Administration Office, nine bodies have been recovered from the river so far, while 55 people — including four Indian nationals and one Chinese citizen — have been successfully rescued.

Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli flew to the flood-hit region along with top ministers and officials. He had earlier convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, instructing all security forces and government agencies to assist in rescue and recovery operations.

The flooding on the Bhotekoshi River occurred early Tuesday and destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, a vital trade link located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu.

Several houses and trucks waiting for customs inspections at the border were swept away by the floodwaters. Among the losses were hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China that had been parked at the border point.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the 19 missing include 13 Nepalis and six Chinese nationals. According to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, cited by state media, the Chinese and eight Nepali victims worked on a Chinese-backed construction project near the border.

The destruction of the Friendship Bridge has halted trade between China and Nepal via this route. Authorities say the only alternative is a longer route through India.

Monsoon flooding in Nepal, which lasts from June to September, often causes severe damage, disrupting transport and threatening lives across the country.