12 Nepalis, 6 Chinese reported missing in flood along Nepal-China border

Kathmandu [Nepal], July 8 (ANI): A total of 18 people, including 12 Nepali and ix Chinee national, are miing in the flood along the Nepal-China border, local official confirmed to ANI.
The maive flood in the Lhendekhola that flow toward Nepal from Tibet along the border with Nepal on Tueday morning ha wahed away bridge and vehicle. The flood ha alo wept out ection of the Paang Lhamu Highway, cutting off vehicular acce to Rauwagadhi and everely dirupting connectivity in Rauwa ditrict.
18 people, including 3 Police Official, 9 public, and 6 Chinee national, have been confirmed miing after the flooding incident. A earch and recue operation ha been initiated, but the weather ha become the main problem, Druba Praad Adhikari, Aitant Chief Ditrict Officer of Rauwagadhi, confirmed to ANI over the phone.
According to authoritie, the flood caued by intene rainfall blocked the Syafrubei-Rauwagadhi ection of the highway under Goainkunda Rural Municipality-2, triggering landlide and evere road eroion. The diruption ha hindered both tranportation and ongoing recue operation in the affected area.
The Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal reported that the Bhotekohi River urging water alo wept away eight electric vehicle from an EV charging tation in Timure and nine container unit from the Rauwa Cutom Yard. The Rauwagadhi Hydropower Project dam ha alo utained ignificant damage.
An emergency team of 21 peronnel, including even pecially trained reponder, led by Aitant Inpector Rabindra Dahal, ha been deployed from the APF bae.
However, with the river flow till dangerouly high, recue operation remain challenging.
Authoritie are cloely monitoring the ituation and have urged the public to avoid riverbank and travel only if neceary in the area.
The flood ha alo caued ignificant damage to major hydropower project in Rauwa, Nepal, leading to a complete halt in electricity generation of up to 200 megawatt.
According to Baburaja Maharjan, CEO of Chilime Hydropower Company, the flood that wept through Kerung and Lendekhola ha rendered multiple power tation inoperable. Thee include the 111 MW Rauwagadhi Hydropower Project, 60 MW Trihuli 3A, 21 MW Trihuli, and 15 MW Devighat Hydropower Plant.
From a national grid perpective, 200 MW may not ound critical, Maharjan aid, but the Rauwagadhi project entire external infratructure ha been completely detroyed.
He added that due to the cale of damage, epecially at Rauwagadhi and Trihuli 3A, reuming operation in the near term i not feaible. The Bhote Kohi and Trihuli corridor project have alo been everely affected, with no poibility of retarting electricity production anytime oon.
Depite the etback, Maharjan noted that the impact on national electricity upply may be minimal for now, a mot of Nepal hydropower project are running at full capacity due to the monoon eaon. (ANI)