A teenager has lost his life, and another is missing while collecting logs from the flooded Mahakali river on Saturday morning.

“18-year-old Saurav Damai and 15-year-old Abhi Damai were swept away by the swollen Mahakali while they were collecting wood carried by the river,” said Ishwar Thapa, an inspector at the district police office, Kanchanpur.

Thapa reported that Saurav's body has been recovered from the river, but Abhi remains missing.

Local residents often risk their lives attempting to collect timber and firewood washed down by the swollen Mahakali River.

According to the police, the water level in the river has begun to recede, with the flow decreasing from 461,000 cusecs on Friday to 200,000 cusecs by Saturday afternoon.