Glacial lake flood destroys Nepal-China trade bridge, sweeps away two dozen people
Sudden glacial lake outburst devastates Rasuwagadhi-Kerung corridor, crippling trade, claiming lives, and exposing climate vulnerability in Nepal’s fragile mountain infrastructure.
A catastrophic flash flood in the Lende River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi, on Tuesday, demolished the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi, severing the vital Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trade route.
The flood devastated critical trade infrastructure, including a dry port under construction in Timure, Rasuwa, multiple road sections, the Rasuwa Customs Office yard, and an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.
Over 100 EVs, container trucks, and goods carriers were submerged. Preliminary estimates by Ganga Bahadur Ghimire, Senior Vice President of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association, suggest losses in the billions of rupees.
With the bridge destroyed, over 50 container trucks have been diverted to the Tatopani-Zhangmu corridor, already strained by prior landslides, further crippling Nepal’s trade capacity with China.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, joined by ministers and China’s ambassador to Nepal, visited Timure. The government announced it would seek China’s assistance to restore emergency road access.
Monsoon-triggered landslides have blocked major routes, including the East-West Highway in Nawalparasi East, the Siddhartha Highway in Palpa, the Kaligandaki Corridor in Baglung, and the Kanti Lokpath and BP Highway in Kavre. Persistent rain is hampering road-clearing efforts.
Despite the monsoon season, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said the Rasuwagadhi flood was not caused by rainfall. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) confirmed no significant precipitation in the upstream Chinese catchment area. On Wednesday, the preliminary scientists' assessment report said the flood resulted from the sudden collapse of a supraglacial lake, which formed in late December 2024 and grew rapidly through June 2025.
“These events signal the impact of rising global temperatures,” said Sharad Prashad Joshi, ICIMOD cryosphere specialist. “They are often more destructive due to debris flow and steep mountain terrain.”
The disaster has claimed at least seven lives, with 19 people missing. It halted 30 megawatts of hydropower capacity and stopped all trade through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung corridor.
“The growing frequency of mountain hazards reflects global temperature increases,” said Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, ICIMOD Director General. “Urgent investment in disaster preparedness and climate-resilient infrastructure is essential.”
The Nepal-China Friendship Bridge, a critical trade and diplomatic link since 2014, underscores the fragility of mountain infrastructure. A recent global study highlights that every dollar invested in resilience saves four dollars in recovery costs—a lesson Nepal faces amid this climate-driven crisis.
