Emergency in Nepal, floods in Rasuwa
On 26 August a sudden surge of water came down from Tibet along the Bhotekoshi river. It struck Timure, on the border with China, and Syabrubesi, the gateway to the Langtang valley. It then flowed into the Trishuli and went on destroying everything in its path. An apocalypse of mud.
The death toll released by Nepal Police is being updated continuously and continues to rise. Dozens of people are receiving treatment for their injuries, and hundreds are still missing or unaccounted for. Destroyed roads and bridges, unstable communications and cut-off communities are hampering rescue efforts and needs assessments. A severe emergency has hit an area already devastated by the 2015 earthquake and the 2025 flood.
The villages upstream are cut off. In Timure, homes, shops and public offices are gone. Forty-two kilometres of road between Betrawati and the border have been destroyed. The hydropower plants are out of service and there is no electricity. The Government has listed Uttargaya among the worst-affected local authorities; several connecting bridges have been lost, the settlement of Khalte has been completely swept away, and the prepositioned emergency supplies have been destroyed.
What is needed now
Shelter for the families who have lost their homes. Safe drinking water and sanitation where the pipes have been broken. Food supplies until the markets reopen. Medical care in the villages that no vehicle can currently reach.
We have been working in this district for eleven years. Our staff are on the ground and are organising the first relief efforts together with our local partners.
