Nepal, July 9 -- An unforeseen disaster struck chaos in Rasuwa and neighbouring districts in the wee hours of Tuesday, leaving at least nine people dead and 20 reported missing. A sudden flash flood in the Bhote Koshi, a tributary of the Trishuli river, at around 3:15 am on Tuesday devastated the settlements and infrastructure on the banks of the river and also washed away the Friendship Bridge between Nepal and China.

By the time Republica went for print, as many as 57 individuals stranded in the disaster zone were rescued by security forces with the Nepali Army airlifting as many as 30 injured individuals with its helicopters.

The flooded Bhote Koshi, which is also known as the Lhende Khola, carried away at least nine people, whose u...