Soon after the Bhotekoshi flood swept away several villages in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading on August 26, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Balendra Shah to express condolences over the loss of life and property, assuring him of all necessary humanitarian assistance. Modi was the first foreign leader to reach out to the Nepali Prime Minister.
On the same day, India dispatched 10 tons of relief material—including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and medicines—becoming the first responder to Nepal’s crisis. As with the 2015 earthquake, India demonstrated its role as a reliable neighbor capable of delivering rapid humanitarian aid. Although the Indian rescue team was prepared to arrive immediately, official permissions from the Nepali government caused brief delays. Currently, Indian rescue personnel are working in close coordination with the Nepali Army, with India having delivered seven batches of humanitarian support to date.
Similarly, China has provided vital humanitarian and logistical aid, dispatching its fifth batch of relief material. On August 28, Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a party meeting to address the grim situation and instructed authorities to assist Nepal.
China has already handed over Bailey bridges to Nepal, which has requested 20 additional structures to restore connectivity. Furthermore, Chinese meteorological authorities are offering weather monitoring, forecasting, and early warning services, while a team of 10 forensic experts was sent to assist with victim identification. Financial support from Beijing includes $2 million in emergency cash assistance to the government and $20,000 from the Red Cross Society of China to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.
The prompt assistance from both neighbors has drawn widespread appreciation from political leaders and the public alike, with many expressing gratitude on social media. In a Facebook post, PM Shah praised both countries, stating that India and China have stood as strong pillars of support during Nepal’s hardship.
This coordinated relief effort is likely to have long-term implications for Nepal’s foreign policy. While Nepal has long advocated for a balanced, friendly relationship with both powerhouses, the crisis highlights the practical need to maintain deep, trustworthy ties with each side.
However, the flood is also expected to reignite debates in Kathmandu regarding the limitations of trade with China and the transit viability of Chinese ports. Although the 2016 Transit and Transport Agreement symbolically ended Nepal’s sole dependence on India, structural and geographic constraints remain—vulnerabilities exposed by the Bhotekoshi flood.
While the Korala border point is open, high costs limit its utility. Following the Bhotekoshi flood, Nepal’s major trading points at Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani remain closed. This is not unprecedented—Tatopani remained virtually closed for years following the 2015 earthquake. With northern trade corridors blocked, Nepal’s reliance on India for transit and essential supplies is set to increase further.
Looking ahead, Nepal will need to engage both neighbors heavily for post-flood recovery and reconstruction. In the immediate term, the government is relying on Indian and Chinese Bailey bridges to restore transport networks along damaged river corridors.
Over the long term, Kathmandu plans to seek substantial financial and technical aid from both nations for infrastructure rebuilding. China is expected to help maintain the highway leading to Rasuwagadhi and construct other infrastructure needed to resume border operations. In a conservation with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal stated that Nepal stands ready to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as post-disaster reconstruction, disaster prevention and mitigation, and climate change responses, as well as to further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.
This crisis may also lead the countries to collaborate on tackling non-traditional security challenges. Nepal’s top priority will be reopening border points with China, an effort that requires significant Chinese assistance. This collaboration is likely to help bridge the mistrust between the political leadership of the two countries following last year’s Gen Z movement.
India, on the other hand, has already expressed willingness to support the reconstruction of infrastructure, including school buildings. Following the earthquake in April 2015, India and China, emerged as the leading international partners in the country’s immediate emergency relief as well as its post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts. This crisis is likely to push the government toward a more proactive, neighborhood-first diplomatic strategy.
