A series of catastrophic flash floods across Nepal has resulted in at least 160 confirmed deaths, while more than 680 individuals—including tourists, travelers, workers, and local residents—remain missing. The disaster has caused severe damage to critical infrastructure, with government estimates confirming that 19 bridges have been destroyed and 40 kilometers of roadway have been severely compromised.
The impact on the energy sector is significant, with 13 hydropower projects reported damaged. The Prime Minister’s office detailed the scale of the ongoing search, noting that missing persons include 44 army personnel, 28 police officers, 13 armed police, and 60 civilian employees who were working on the affected hydropower sites.
Investigations into the cause of the sudden, destructive surges along the Lhende and Bhotekoshi rivers are underway. Analysis of satellite imagery from Planet Labs suggests that a massive snow-and-rock landslide near the border with China triggered a debris-laden flood in the Lhende River. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority continues to evaluate the full extent of the disaster as recovery efforts persist. The report also notes that an initial assessment provided a possible explanation for the sudden surge that caused widespread destruction along the Lhende and Bhotekoshi rivers.
