Nepal Flash Flood Kills Eight; Damages Roads, Power Projects.

Nepal's villages in the Himalayan nation was swept away today after a massive flash flood occured, killing eight and damaging roads, bridges and power projects in areas near Tibet, authorities said. Helicopters were sent to the rescue. 

Across the border, Tibet reported "major casualties" with some missing in the neighbouring county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a land crossing between China and Nepal, media reports said. 

The waters has been too high for helicopters to land in some affected areas ​of Nepal, in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, just north of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, with a population of about ⁠50,000, officials said, while flagging the risk of casualties.

Government officials urged those living on the banks of the Bhote Koshi river ​in the area to seek higher ground, pointing to reports that nearby villages and infrastructure project sites were washed away.

Nepal's rescue helicopters would be unable to land in the affected areas until the waters recede, army ​spokesperson said.

The cause of the inundation was not immediately clear, but a deadly flash flood on the same river last year ⁠was eventually traced to the draining of a glacier lake.

Source: Reuters | BBC