Nepal flash flood washes away villages, damages roads, power projects - Reuters

**Flash Flood Devastates Northern Nepal, Washing Away Villages and Halting Infrastructure Projects**

Heavy rainstorms on Thursday triggered a sudden flash flood in the remote northern districts of Nepal bordering Tibet, inundating low‑lying settlements along the Karnali and Bheri river valleys. According to Reuters, the deluge surged through steep, deforested gorges, overwhelming early‑warning systems and sweeping away homes, livestock and roadways in a matter of minutes. Local officials reported that entire villages were erased from the map, with families forced to cling to rooftops or seek refuge on higher ground as waters rose to several metres.

The impact extended beyond the immediate loss of habitation. The Hindu noted that critical infrastructure—including the under‑construction Upper Tamakoshi hydro‑electric project and a network of rural feeder roads—suffered severe damage, halting power generation plans that were earmarked to boost Nepal’s electricity exports. The BBC and NDTV both highlighted the growing death toll, with rescue teams fearing heavy casualties as dozens of residents remain unaccounted for. Vehicles, agricultural equipment and essential supplies were also swept away, compounding the humanitarian crisis in an area already grappling with limited access to medical and emergency services.

In response, the Nepalese Army, police, and the Nepal Red Cross have launched coordinated rescue operations, deploying helicopters, boats and high‑altitude stretchers to reach isolated communities cut off by washed‑out bridges. International aid agencies are monitoring the situation, offering logistical support and emergency relief kits. Authorities have warned that similar flash‑flood events could become more frequent as climate change intensifies monsoon patterns, prompting calls for reinforced watershed management and early‑warning infrastructure in the vulnerable Himalayan foothills.