A dramatic incident has emerged from flood-hit Nepal after a bank vault containing cash was swept away by floodwaters and carried downstream by the Trishuli River, only to trigger a criminal investigation after it was discovered on the riverbank. According to Nepalese police and local media reports, the vault was swept away from the Rasuwa area amid severe flooding and landslides before being carried downstream into Dhading district. The vault was reportedly recovered near Galchi after it was found along the banks of the Trishuli River. Police allege that several people who discovered the vault broke it open and began removing the cash inside before security forces arrived at the scene. A joint team of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force subsequently arrested 29 people in connection with the incident and recovered 9.27 million Nepalese rupees from those detained, police said. However, authorities have not yet established how much money was originally stored inside the vault, leaving open the question of whether the recovered cash represents the full amount or whether additional money may still be missing. Investigators are examining how the vault was swept away from its original location, who first discovered it after it reached Dhading, and whether anyone managed to take cash from it before law enforcement arrived. The unusual episode comes as Nepal continues to deal with widespread destruction caused by floods and landslides, with authorities increasing patrols and security operations in affected areas to prevent theft and looting of government, commercial and private property. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities attempt to determine the total amount of money originally held in the vault and whether any additional cash remains unaccounted for.
Bank vault washed away by floodwaters in Nepal; 29 arrested for breaking into it and looting Rs 9.2 million
