Video captures flash floods sweeping through China-Nepal border area

Apocalyptic CCTV footage from Gyirong Port in Tibet shows a massive flash flood surging through the China-Nepal border area before sweeping into Nepal’s Rasuwa district and leaving a trail of destruction along the Bhote Koshi River.

At least 157 people have died, while nearly 500 others remain missing after flash floods swept through villages and damaged infrastructure in Nepal’s Rasuwa district bordering Tibet on Wednesday.

The missing include 133 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians, according to reports.

To see the footage, click here.

The CCTV footage shows a powerful surge of muddy water, rocks and debris rushing downstream and rapidly flooding a parking area. The torrent sweeps away vehicles and sends dust and mist into the air.

People scramble and run for safety as the floodwater engulfs parts of the area within seconds, plunging the border facility into chaos.

Officials said the flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9am local time after rushing down from Tibet. It affected Rasuwa and Dhading districts along the Tibetan border, as well as Nuwakot district southwest of Kathmandu.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, at least 384 travellers remain missing from the flood-hit areas, including 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali nationals.

The missing include 105 Indian tourists and 37 NRIs, while travellers from the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands also remain unaccounted for.

At least 59 Indians had travelled to the region as pilgrims for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, Samrat Tours and Travel said.

The Nepal Army has deployed helicopters and disaster response personnel to support rescue operations in the affected areas.

Videos shared by Nepal Police and others on social media show torrents of muddy water crashing through mountain valleys in districts bordering Tibet.

“We do not exactly know the extent of damage, but the flood is big, and it could have damaged many settlements,” Nepal Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle told AFP.

He said authorities had alerted people living near rivers to relocate and had deployed all available resources for the rescue effort.

Monsoon rains between June and September regularly trigger deadly floods and landslides across South Asia. In July last year, a mudslide near Gyirong Port left 17 people missing.