Nepal Police said Tuesday afternoon that seven bodies have been recovered following the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa district earlier in the day.

At least 18 people remain missing, including nine workers at the customs yard, six Chinese nationals, and three Nepal Police personnel. Police added that 55 individuals had been rescued by 3 PM.

The flooding, which struck early Tuesday morning, caused extensive damage to one of Nepal’s key trade corridors with China, sweeping away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi and disrupting electricity production and customs operations.

(Source: Nepal Police)

The affected areas include Wards 1, 2, and 3 of Gosaikunda Rural Municipality; Wards 1, 2, 4, and 5 of Aamachhodingmo Rural Municipality; Wards 2, 4, and 5 of Uttargaya Rural Municipality; and Ward 1 of Kalika Rural Municipality.

Vehicles and containers parked at the customs yard in Timure were swept away, according to officials. The local EV charging station sustained damage, and cracks were reported on sections of the Pasang Lhamu Highway, affecting transport between Dhunche and Timure.

The flood also damaged multiple hydropower projects, including the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi, 22 MW Chilime, and 60 MW Trishuli 3A, bringing over 200 megawatts of electricity production to a halt, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Full damage assessments are ongoing.