Nepal on Thursday warned of the possibility of another major flood in the Bhotekoshi River after an obstruction in the upstream Lhende River led to the formation of a lake, prompting authorities to advise residents and rescue teams in downstream areas to remain highly vigilant.
According to a special notice issued by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Flood Forecasting Division, information received from China through Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the river had been blocked near the site of Wednesday’s devastating flash flood, causing a lake to form upstream.
The department said the lake was continuing to rise and could trigger a sudden outburst, urging people living along the lower banks of the Bhotekoshi River, passengers and rescue personnel to stay away from riverbanks and other vulnerable areas until further notice.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the Lhende River was obstructed around 18 km upstream of the Rasuwagadhi border, creating a lake spread over approximately 0.11 square kilometres.
The warning comes a day after devastating flash floods swept through Rasuwa and other parts of Nepal, killing hundreds of people and causing extensive damage to settlements, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.
According to The Kathmandu Post, the death toll had risen to 359 by Thursday evening, with bodies recovered from eight districts. Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed the revised toll.
The authorities are continuing search and rescue operations, evacuating residents from vulnerable areas and searching for missing people. Security forces and local administrations are also working to clear roads blocked by debris and flood damage.
The floodwaters moved downstream through the Trishuli and Narayani river systems, affecting several districts and raising concerns about further flooding in downstream areas.
