A Town Lost to the River: A Personal Account of Nepal’s Tragedy
Witnessing a beloved town vanish in Nepal's flood disaster. First-hand account of loss and resilience.
POLICY WIRE — Kathmandu, Nepal — For over a decade, Syabru Besi was a familiar stop for travelers seeking the breathtaking Langtang Valley. The small town, nestled on a ridge where the trek begins, remained largely unchanged—same shops, same faces, and the ever-present sound of the Trishuli River far below.
The river, which could only be glimpsed from the village’s edge, became a constant companion during visits. By 2025, Syabru Besi had evolved into more than just a transit point—it had become a thriving hub with a café and a popular momo restaurant. But on August 31, 2026, the town was gone, swept away by an unprecedented flood that left devastation in its wake.
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The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border, claimed at least 1,300 lives and left thousands missing. Entire towns were erased, their streets now riverbeds. The flood damaged or destroyed 13 hydropower projects, disrupting nearly 12% of Nepal’s electricity supply. As the country grapples with the aftermath, questions about the future of development along these vulnerable river corridors loom large.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
