At least 46 people have died after a massive flash flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River swept through parts of the country’s northern districts.

The flooding affected Nuwakot and Dhading districts, with floodwaters coming from the Tibetan side of the border. Several villages were reportedly washed away, while roads and other infrastructure suffered extensive damage.

At least 105 Indians are among 384 travellers reported missing from the affected area. The missing travellers include people who were travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet with different travel agencies.

384 travellers reported missing

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 384 travellers are missing, including 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali nationals.

Of the foreign nationals reported missing, 105 are Indians. The travellers were on their way to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when the flash flood struck.

The disaster has also affected security personnel. At least 26 Nepal Police personnel remain missing in Rasuwa district, while the Armed Police Force has reported seven missing personnel.

The Nepal Army has deployed helicopters and disaster response personnel to the affected areas. Authorities are also collecting information about the damage caused by the floods.

Six hydropower facilities damaged

The floods have also damaged major power infrastructure in Nepal.

The Nepal Electricity Authority said six of its major hydropower and transmission facilities were damaged. These include Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Trishuli 3A, Trishuli 3B Hub 220 kV Substation, Trishuli Hydropower Station and Devighat Hydropower Station.

The authority said the damage to production, transmission and distribution facilities has disrupted electricity supplies.

Several highways in Nepal have also been closed following the flooding.

Nepal PM convenes emergency meeting

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to review the situation.

Mr Shah said work had begun to take necessary measures in coordination with medical teams, scouts and the Red Cross.

Videos shared by Nepal Police and others showed torrents of muddy water moving through mountain valleys in areas bordering Tibet.

Authorities have warned people living close to rivers to move to safer locations as rescue and assessment operations continue.

Monsoon rains between June and September regularly cause floods and landslides across South Asia. Scientists have also linked climate change to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.

The Trump administration has paused or rescheduled visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide as the State Department conducts a global training initiative for consular officers.

The State Department said visa service appointments are being adjusted to accommodate the training across its overseas diplomatic posts. The initiative is aimed at helping officers screen applicants who may be considered likely to become dependent on US public benefits and at ensuring visa applications are evaluated comprehensively and consistently.

There is currently no specific timeline for how long the changes to visa appointments will continue.

Visa applicants receive rescheduling notices

Some immigrant visa applicants who already had interviews scheduled at US embassies and consulates have reportedly received emails informing them that their appointments would be rescheduled.

The applicants were told that they would receive further communication regarding a new interview date.

The development comes as the Trump administration continues its broader immigration crackdown, which has included visa and green card revocations and rejection of applications on various grounds.

Trump administration steps up immigration scrutiny

The administration has also begun a White House review of a proposal to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. The proposal has been classified as economically significant and could affect the employment-based immigration route used by thousands of Indian professionals.

Separately, the administration plans to revoke the visas of around 200,000 foreigners who entered the US for tourism or business but later sought to remain in the country by applying for asylum, according to the report.

The immigration crackdown has also faced legal challenges. A US judge recently struck down a policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority.

Iran has threatened retaliation following the United States’ decision to widen economic sanctions against Tehran, with senior officials insisting that the new measures will not easily isolate the country from its major trading partners.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the latest US pressure, arguing that Washington was not in a position to further restrict Iran’s economic ties with other nations. He also said Iran’s trading partners had indicated that they would not be swayed by the US statements.

The comments came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced measures aimed at cutting off Iran’s economic lifeline. He warned that countries continuing to trade with Iran could eventually face restrictions that would affect their access to the dollar-based financial system.

However, Bessent did not identify the countries that could face such penalties or specify when they would be imposed. The US Treasury Department separately announced sanctions against 60 individuals, entities and vessels.

Notably, the sanctions list did not include Chinese financial institutions suspected of helping facilitate Iran’s oil trade. China remains Iran’s biggest trading partner.

Tehran says it is ready to counter US pressure

Following the US announcement, Ghalibaf said Iran’s partners were not taking Washington’s latest statements seriously.

Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh also said Tehran was “fully prepared” to deal with the expanded sanctions. He argued that Iran had developed its own economic tools after years of sanctions and warned that its response could extend beyond defence.

Madanizadeh further said that neither China nor Russia had accepted the US measures and predicted that other countries would also resist Washington’s pressure.

Iran has also warned of possible military retaliation and indicated that it could further reduce oil exports from the Gulf if its infrastructure comes under threat.

Iran warns of attacks on US interests and energy routes

Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Iran could deliver heavy blows against US vital interests and energy chokepoints if its infrastructure is threatened.

The warning comes amid continued tensions involving shipping and energy routes in the region. Tehran has previously indicated that it could use its military capabilities and control over strategically important areas to respond to threats.

What is the current situation in the Iran conflict?

The conflict remains unresolved despite a reduction in major strikes in recent weeks. The US administration is continuing to pursue economic pressure against Tehran while also seeking ways to address Iranian attacks on ships in the Gulf and, through its allies, in the Red Sea.

The conflict has placed further pressure on energy markets, while years of US and international sanctions have already caused significant economic difficulties for Iran.

Iran’s conventional military capabilities have also been affected by the conflict. However, Tehran is reported to retain missile and drone capabilities that could threaten Gulf neighbours and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The condition of Iran’s nuclear programme remains unclear, while the US and Israel continue to seek its dismantling.