Kathmandu, Aug 30 – Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued a fresh flood warning on Sunday, noting that water levels in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa have risen further. The notice urged anyone involved in search, rescue and relief operations in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts, as well as residents along the riversides, to stay alert.
The Flood Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reported that the Trishuli River downstream of Bhotekoshi, in the Galchhi area of Dhading district, is now about three metres above its normal level. Earlier, on Aug. 26, the river in Dhading was recorded at more than 14 metres, indicating a rapid escalation in water height.
Officials attributed the rise in the Trishuli River to flooding originating from the Bhote Koshi basin in Rasuwa. A hydrology department spokesperson added that the immediate risk to riverside communities has lessened because many residents have already evacuated the flood‑prone zones.
The NDRRMA also warned of a separate threat from the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River. A satellite image taken on Aug. 27 showed an obstruction roughly 18 kilometres upstream of the Rasuwagadhi border, creating a lake of about 0.11 square kilometres. Authorities cautioned that the natural dam retaining this lake could fail, potentially triggering another major flood, and urged continued vigilance.
Preliminary assessments suggest additional lakes may have formed in the area. The massive flood on Aug. 26 has, to date, claimed 675 lives, and 2,498 people remain missing, including 589 foreign nationals.
