A flash flood occurred at the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, 2026, causing significant destruction in the area. Video footage captured the moment when water, mud, boulders, ice, and rock surged down the valley, with a timestamp indicating the event began at 10:59:53 local time. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports suggest that much of the border complex in Gyirong, China, has been swept away.
The flood also impacted Rasuwagadhi in Nepal's Rasuwa district, where the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal and China was destroyed, along with immigration and customs facilities. The area is a key travel route between Kathmandu and Tibet, frequented by pilgrims and traders. Ajay Dixit, a hydrologist based in Kathmandu, noted the geological vulnerability of the region, characterized by steep rivers and heavy sediment.
Reports indicate that over 100 Indians were present at the crossing during the flood, with at least 275 Indians reported missing in Nepal, according to India's foreign ministry. Nepal's Department of Immigration is working to identify individuals who passed through Rasuwagadhi shortly before the disaster. Electronic records show that 89 individuals had cleared immigration to leave Nepal for Tibet, while four had entered Nepal.
CCTV footage from the morning of the flood shows people fleeing as mud and water engulf buildings. Four immigration employees, including the head of the Rasuwagadhi office, went missing, with one body recovered downstream. Tika Ram Pokharel, a senior immigration assistant, was the only staff member known to have survived, as he was in Kathmandu for an exam.
Pokharel described the immigration office's location and the busy conditions at the border that morning, estimating that 300 to 400 people were waiting to cross. He expressed concern that many individuals may not have completed their immigration process on the Chinese side. The flood was triggered by the collapse of part of a glacier, which was detected by seismic instruments shortly before the floodwaters arrived.
The area around Ghatte Khola Bazar, where the immigration office was located, was also heavily affected, with many businesses and homes destroyed. Pokharel estimated that 2,000 to 2,500 people may have been caught in the flood, a figure that has not been independently verified.
The crossing had recently reopened after recovering from a previous flood in July 2025, which had closed Rasuwagadhi for nearly six months. The closure of this key route has raised concerns about Nepal's trade dependency on alternative crossings, as Rasuwagadhi accounts for a significant portion of Nepal's trade with China. Posh Raj Pandey, chairman emeritus of the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, emphasized the need for Nepal to develop alternative trade routes and reconsider its development strategy in light of the recent disaster.