United News of Bangladesh

At least nine people have died and 19 others remain missing after monsoon-triggered floods swept away Nepal’s main bridge connecting the country to China, authorities said Wednesday, as rescue efforts continue along the swollen mountain river. Dozens of rescuers have been deployed to the affected area and more are expected to join the operation, police confirmed. The bodies of nine victims have so far been recovered from the river, while 55 people — including four Indian nationals and one Chinese citizen — have been rescued, according to the Rasuwa District Administration Office. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli flew to the flood-hit region along with top ministers and officials. He had earlier convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, instructing all security forces and government agencies to assist in rescue and recovery operations. The flooding on the Bhotekoshi River occurred early Tuesday and destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, a vital trade link located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu. Monsoon floods wash away Nepal-China bridge, 18 missing Several houses and trucks waiting for customs inspections at the border were swept away by the floodwaters. Among the losses were hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China that had been parked at the border point. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the 19 missing individuals include 13 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals. According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, cited by state media, the Chinese and eight of the Nepali victims were working on a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border. The destruction of the Friendship Bridge has brought trade between China and Nepal through this route to a complete halt. Authorities noted that the only alternative now is a significantly longer route — shipping goods from China to India, and then transporting them overland to Nepal. Flooding during Nepal’s annual monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September, frequently causes widespread damage, disrupting transportation and threatening lives and livelihoods across the country.

Monsoon-swollen floodwaters swept away the main bridge linking Nepal with China on Tuesday, leaving 18 people missing and halting a key trade route, according to Nepali authorities. The Bhotekoshi River, swollen by heavy rainfall, destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu. The flood also swept away several houses and trucks that had been parked at the border for customs inspections. Among the damaged property were hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China. Rescue operations were underway, with a Nepali Army helicopter evacuating people stranded by the sudden flooding. Police said that 95 rescuers had already reached the site and additional teams were being mobilized. Monsoon rains and flash floods kill at least 72 in Pakistan According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the 18 missing people include 12 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals. The Chinese nationals, along with eight of the Nepalis, were working on a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said, as reported by state media. The destruction of the Friendship Bridge has effectively stopped all trade via this route. With the Rasuwagadi checkpoint out of operation, the only viable alternative involves transporting goods from China to India and then overland into Nepal — a longer and more complex process. Nepal’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, often brings devastating floods that damage infrastructure and threaten lives, particularly in mountainous and border regions.