Kathmandu, July 8 -- The sudden and massive flood on the Bhote Kosi early Tuesday morning washed away a strategic bridge on Nepal's main border crossing with China for trade, tourists and pilgrims.

Slurry from the nearly 10m high debris flow left 9 dead and 20 missing, 12 of them Nepalis and six Chinese nationals, and 150 others were rescued by helicopter.

Four hydropower plants Rasuwagadi, Trisuli III, Trisuli, Benighat and the Trisuli substation sustained heavy damage, knocking out 230MW of Nepal's power supply - approximately 8% of the total. Over 100 cargo trucks and new electric vehicles parked at Timure Dry Port were swept away.

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Officials had initially thought the B...