Sudden severe flood in Nepal near Tibet border caused devastation, 13 hydropower projects including many settlements affected.

26/08/26 | 5:45 pm | Balendra Shah | Bhote Koshi River | GLOF | Nepal flood | Nepal hydropower projects | Rasuwa flood | Tibet border

At least four people died and massive destruction occurred in many settlements due to the massive flash flood in Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa and surrounding districts bordering Tibet in Nepal early Wednesday. Thirteen hydropower projects, including eight ongoing and five under construction, have been affected by the floods. Officials said the cause of the floods is not yet clear, but heavy rains, avalanches or glacier-related incidents are suspected on the Tibet side.

According to officials, the water level of Bhote Koshi river suddenly increased at around 9 am local time. It also affected Rasuwa and Dhading along the Tibet border and Nuwakot district, south-west of Kathmandu. The flood in Rasuwa was not caused by local rain, but heavy rain or avalanche on the Tibetan side is being considered as the possible cause.

According to the Senior Superintendent of Police and spokesperson of the Bagmati Province Police Office, the bodies of three men and a woman have been recovered from Bidur municipality in Nuwakot district. Their bodies were found near the Trishuli river soon after the flood.

Rasuwa, located near the Tibet border, about 125 kilometers north-east of Kathmandu, is the most affected district. According to Nepal Army, vehicles, goods and other property were washed away due to sudden rise in water level in Timure and Syafrubesi areas. Assistant Chief District Officer, Rasuwa, Dhruv Prasad Adhikari said the level of flood was unusually high and there was considerable damage in both the settlements.

According to Rasuwa Chief Customs Officer Rajendra Dhungana, many vehicles and goods kept in the customs premises were washed away in the flood. A recently built bridge was also destroyed. This area is important for Nepal's trade traffic with Tibet.

Information Officer of Hydrology and Meteorology Department, Dinkar Kayastha, said that there is no possibility of flood due to rain in Rasuwa. He feared the formation of a new glacier or the bursting of an old glacier. According to officials, studies are being conducted to find out the actual cause. According to 'The Himalayan Times', officials are also investigating whether the incident was caused by glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) or some other reason.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has asked people living along the river banks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha to remain on high alert and adopt safety measures until further notice. Officials have warned that the threat of floods from Tibet has not been completely eliminated yet.

According to the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN), eight operational hydropower projects and five under construction projects in Nuwakot and Rasuwa with a total capacity of 354 MW have been affected by the floods. Major affected projects include 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project, 78 MW Sanjen Khola Hydroelectric Project and 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A.

According to 'The Kathmandu Post', about a dozen settlements including Syafrubesi, Betravati, Melung, Sallettar, Shantibazar, Pirebesi, Khalti Basti, Sole, Trishuli and Battar have been affected. Life has been affected due to flood water entering many areas.

Following the emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Nepal Army, Armed Police Forces and Nepal Police personnel were deployed in the affected areas for rescue and relief operations. The administration has intensified search and rescue operations in the affected areas.

Nepal Army said that 12 helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations after the floods. The Army evacuated six people from Syafrubaisi in Rasuwa, two from Melung and four from Dhunche. A treatment center has also been set up at Military Training Center No. 1 in Trishuli, where Army medical personnel are providing emergency medical care to the affected people.

According to local media, the area police office in Timure, the police post of Syafrubesi and the police post of Rasuvagadi were also damaged. Armed Police Force spokesperson Netra Bahadur Karki said that four Armed Police Force personnel are missing from Rasuwa after the flood.

Team of health workers sent to the affected area

A team of 16 health workers, including five doctors, has been sent to the affected area of ​​Rasuwa to treat the injured. An Army Mi-17 helicopter has been sent to the district hospital in Trishuli with an emergency medical rescue team.