Nepal Floods: India and China Offer Temporary Bridges as Death Toll Reaches 1,356

Nepal is seeking temporary bridges from India and China after devastating flash floods destroyed major roads and bridges, leaving thousands of people dead, missing or stranded and severely disrupting rescue and recovery operations.

The death toll from the August 26 disaster has reached 1,356, according to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Authorities said 4,994 people remain missing, while 13,396 people have been rescued.

The disaster was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, which caused the Bhotekoshi River to surge downstream. The flooding washed away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and caused damage to hydropower projects across northern and central Nepal.

The extensive destruction of transport infrastructure has made rescue and recovery operations more difficult, prompting Nepal to seek temporary bridge support from neighbouring India and China.

Both countries have responded positively to Nepal's request. China has already sent two 100-metre Bailey bridges to the Korala border crossing in Mustang.

India has also offered to provide Bailey bridges to help Nepal restore connectivity in flood-affected regions.

Nepal's Department of Roads has estimated that the floods caused around NPR 30 billion in damage to roads and bridges. The cost of rebuilding damaged infrastructure is expected to reach approximately NPR 50 billion.

The disaster destroyed 41 motorable bridges between Rasuwa and Chitwan and partially damaged four others. Only 18 of the 63 bridges along the affected corridor remain intact.

Several major road connections have been cut off. In Rasuwa, flooding severed the road link with Nuwakot, while the destruction of the Furke Khola bridge disrupted the direct connection between Dhadingbesi and the Prithvi Highway.

Authorities have begun clearing roads and reopening washed-away sections to make it possible to transport and install temporary bridges.

The Nepali Army is also installing an Acrow bridge at Devighat in Nuwakot as part of efforts to restore road connectivity.

However, transporting Bailey bridges to affected locations remains a major challenge because many of the roads leading to the damaged sites have also been destroyed.

Nepal's Department of Roads has 11 Bailey bridges, each up to 48 metres long, but authorities said access remains a major obstacle. Work is underway to reopen damaged routes so that bridge components and construction equipment can reach isolated areas.

Authorities are also facing difficulties in identifying bodies recovered from the floodwaters. Only 98 bodies had been identified and handed over to families as of Monday.

Many bodies were swept downstream and recovered in severely damaged or decomposed conditions, making identification a difficult process.

The disaster has also affected areas across the border in Tibet. Chinese media reports said at least 43 people were killed on the Chinese side, while more than 500 people remain missing.

As Nepal works with India and China to restore damaged infrastructure, reopening critical roads and installing temporary bridges has become essential for reaching isolated communities and accelerating rescue, recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The widespread destruction has created one of Nepal's biggest infrastructure recovery challenges, with thousands of people still missing and major transport links requiring urgent restoration.