Kathmandu, August 26
Communities along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers were going about their normal routines on Wednesday morning when a sudden flood swept through the area, destroying structures that had taken decades to build within minutes.
An aerial assessment by Onlinekhabar several hours after the flood showed widespread destruction across the affected areas, from the Rasuwagadhi border point to Bidur in Nuwakot.
Floodwaters reached settlements as high as 270 feet above the river level, with homes destroyed and the number of people swept away still unclear.
Survivors have moved to higher ground for safety, while some residents stranded on the roofs of flooded houses have been calling for rescue. Many people were still waiting to be evacuated as helicopters flew over the affected areas.
The destruction was visible across Timure, Dhunche, Mailung, Syafrubesi and Betrabati, with settlements reduced to ruins and hydropower infrastructure swept away.
The Rasuwagadhi customs office was also destroyed, with little trace of the facility remaining.
The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed for rescue operations. However, the scale of destruction across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading has made rescue efforts difficult.
The flood has caused extensive loss of life and property along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor, while authorities continue search, rescue and relief operations.
