Nepal’s mountainous terrain is vulnerable to flash floods. Disasters have gotten deadlier in recent years in part because of changing climate patterns. Erratic rainfall, floods, landslides, avalanches and glacial lake outbursts are becoming more serious.

A mountain river swollen by monsoon rains has swept away the main bridge linking Nepal with China. The flooding Tuesday also swept away 18 people, and rescue efforts were underway.

The government body's Director General Dinesh Bhatt said that further studies are ongoing in the floods that also washed away the Nepal-China Miteri or friendship bridge. Read on: