Nepal warns of renewed flash floods after Bhotekoshi disaster

Nepal has warned of a high risk of flash floods in several rivers, including the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli, days after a devastating flood in the Himalayan region left communities in northern Nepal facing a renewed threat.

The Flood Forecasting Division of the Centre of Hydrology and Water Resources Research said water levels in the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and nearby rivers are expected to rise on Wednesday, with rainfall potentially triggering flash floods.

The warning is particularly serious for Rasuwa and Nuwakot, where residents living near riverbanks have been urged to remain highly alert.

Saraswati Bista, a flood expert at the division, said a lake has formed near the Nepal-China border and could burst without warning.

“Since this lake could burst at any time, we have been urging the general public to stay highly alert until further notice,” Bista said. She added that rainfall could increase the risk of flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot through Thursday.

The latest warning comes after a major flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26, which caused deaths, injuries and disappearances and triggered rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

Authorities have also warned of rising water levels in rivers and streams across much of Nepal, including areas in the eastern, central and western parts of the country.

The division urged people living near rivers and streams, as well as those travelling along river corridors, to remain alert as smaller rivers and waterways could also experience sudden flooding.

The warning highlights the continuing risks faced by communities in Nepal’s mountainous river valleys, where heavy rainfall, unstable terrain and rapidly changing conditions can contribute to sudden floods and landslides.