Floods sweep away Nepal-China bridge

KATHMANDU: Over two dozen people were missing after torrential rain in China's Tibet region triggered a deluge in the Bhotekoshi river, washing away the "Friendship Bridge" that links China and Nepal, officials said on Tuesday.

Weather forecasting experts said the flood might have been the result of an overflowing glacial lake in Tibet since there had been no heavy rainfall in the immediate catchment area of the river in the preceding 24 hours. At least 18 people are missing in Nepal while China's official Xinhua news agency said 11 people were unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the mountainous border region.

In Nepal, the missing included six Chinese workers and three police personnel, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said on X. It added that eight electric cars were also washed away and a small hydroelectric plant was damaged in the flood.

Trade between Nepal and China was disrupted because of the bridge's destruction, officials said.

The missing Chinese nationals were working at the Inland Container Depot being constructed with Chinese assistance about 80 km north of the capital Kathmandu, said Arjun Paudel, a senior administrative official of Rasuwa district. China has been increasing its investment in Nepal in recent years in domains including roads, power plants, and hospitals.

(This is a Reuters story)