Flash flood fury in Nepal: Eight killed as several villages washed away; alert in Bihar

KATMANDU: Eight people died while nine were reported missing after flash floods hit northern Nepal's Rasuwa district, near the Tibetan border. Houses, vehicles and bridges were washed away. Some dams collapsed, and several villages were deluged. Authorities have also issued an alert in Bihar, which shares a border with Nepal. Rescue operations are underway in Nepal. Helicopters were reportedly unable to land in some places.

The floodwaters from the Tibetan side reached the Koshi River at around 9 am local time this morning. The lack of any warning added to the impact of the disaster. The floods have severely affected the Timure and Syapru Besi regions.

There have also been reports of landslides in Tibet. Chinese news agencies are reporting missing cases with serious damage in several areas. Rescue operations are also underway here.

The cause of the flash flood is unclear. Nepal's flood forecasting department says that the rain in the Rasuwa area is not considered to be the cause of the flood. Meanwhile, satellite images showed heavy rain in the Tibetan area. It is believed that the rain here might have triggered a flash flood.

Scary images of rivers overflowing and buildings, including houses, collapsing in flash floods are circulating on social media.