Bhotekoshi river flood in Nepal leaves 72 dead and serious structural damage

Published at: 26/08/2026 10:19 AM

The death toll from the devastating flooding of the Bhotekoshi River in the district of Rasuwa, in northern Nepal, rose to 72, according to the latest reports from the Nepalese Police. The flood, which broke out early on Wednesday around 9:15 local time, generated a major emergency, destroying populated areas and complex infrastructure projects throughout the mountainous region.

The impact on the road network is severe on the stretch between Rasuwa and Dhading Galchhi. The Deputy Director General of the Department of Roads, Shubharaj Neupane, confirmed the destruction of at least 27 bridges, of which 22 were made of concrete and five were of Bailey-type structures, a situation that keeps various localities in northern Nepal incommunicado.

In the energy sector, the Langtang Khola hydroelectric project suffered major damage as a result of the stream. The director of the work, Bijay Mohan Bhattarai, explained that communication was lost with nearly 60 workers who were operating inside one of the tunnels at the time the water penetrated.

Security forces and rescue teams are carrying out intensive search operations in the river basin, where nearly 400 people are still missing. Relief efforts face serious difficulties due to the accumulation of mud, the collapse of land passes and adverse geographical conditions in the disaster zone.

Mazo News Team