Lawmakers urge the government to establish an information-sharing mechanism and diplomatic collaboration with China to mitigate the risks of loss of lives and damage to property in the future
KATHMANDU, JULY 9
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has tentatively concluded that the rupture of a Tibetan glacier lake resulted in a massive cross-border flood in Bhotekoshi, Rasuwa, killing uncounted people.
The NDRRMA, during a press conference today afternoon, stated that the exact cause and detailed information about the Bhotekoshi flood will only be revealed through additional study and research.
NDRRMAA Executive Director Dinesh Prasad Bhatt, however, confirmed that the Bhotekoshi flood was not caused by rain. He presented satellite images showing that there had been no rainfall measurement in the days preceding the incident (from July 4 to 7).
On the Nepal side, the Bhotekoshi is formed by the confluence of two rivers. The Kerung River on the right and the Lhende River on the left, both on the Chinese side, merge. The flood came from Lhende around 3:00am yesterday.
Water levels rapidly rose at the Timure and Syafrubesi stations in Rasuwa.
"Yesterday's measurements at the two stations indicate that it was a flash flood," Bhatt explained, adding that in rain-induced floods, the water level gradually rises. "There was no sign of rain in the upper parts of Nepal and China on July 4, 5, 6 and 7."
At approximately 3:15am yesterday, the water level at Timure station unexpectedly rose by 3.5 metres. The level at Syafrubesi station also abruptly increased by 1.75 metres at approximately 3:30am.
The Miteri Bridge, which served as the primary route between China and Nepal, was first destroyed by the unexpected flood. The National Security Council has made the decision to ask the Chinese government for help in constructing a new bridge there.
The flood then inflicted damages to other areas.
Following the flood, the authority searched Google for images of glacial lakes in the area.
According to Bhatt, the images showed some possible lake bursts. During the preliminary investigation, the authority compared Google images from 2018 and 2025.
The authority has requested satellite images to determine where the flood originated.
According to the authority's analysis of the images, water flowing from the Puripu Glacier caused the flood in Bhotekoshi. In scientific terms, the process of water flowing from the upper surface of a glacier or lake is referred to as 'supraglacial'.
According to scientists at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), supraglacial lakes form on the surface of glaciers, particularly in debris-covered areas. They are highly dynamic and ephemeral, often beginning as small meltwater ponds that gradually expand and sometimes merge to form larger supraglacial lakes.
"China-Nepal flood was caused by draining of 'supraglacial' lake that started forming as a small pond at the end of December 2024, which grew significantly in June 2025," reads the ICIMOD statement.
The NDRRMA's preliminary study also suggests that the flood in Bhotekoshi was caused by supraglacial events, as seen in satellite images.
Bhatt also claimed that the distance between Miteri Bridge and the flooded Himtal was only 35 kilometres.
According to the authorities, the bodies of nine people who perished in the flood have been recovered thus far. The flood swept away 20 people from the customs yard, which is located about one-and-a-half kilometres below Miteri Bridge. Only one of the recovered body has been identified, while the process of identifying the others is underway, along with search and rescue operations.
Bodies and body parts have been found as far as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan.
"The flood killed three police officers, six Chinese nationals, and the remaining Nepali nationals. The body of Lal Bahadur Shrestha, an assistant police inspector, was found in Chitwan's Trishuli River. Two other police officers remain missing," Rasuwa CDO Arjun Paudyal told THT.
A 383-member team from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepali Army rescued 57 people, including 31 stranded individuals who were airlifted to safety by helicopter.
Altogether 24 containers from the customs yard, 35 vehicles held for inspection and six trucks were swept away. The flood also caused damage to 16 kilometres of road infrastructure and three hydropower plants.
According to Paudyal, the flood has caused widespread significant loss of life and widespread damage to property, infrastructure and livelihoods. "The total extent of the devastation can be revealed only after the field study and investigation," he said.
When asked about China's response to the deadly flash flood, Paudyal stated, "They are also investigating the matter. They have also pretty much confirmed that it was due to GLOF."
Meanwhile, sector experts have argued and emphasised the importance of robust cross-border coordination, collaboration and communication in disaster response.
Ujjwal Upadhyay, a climate change and disaster risk reduction analyst, said that this incident makes a strong case for a data exchange mechanism, river discharge and climate data with China to prevent casualties.
Similarly, lawmakers - who expressed their grief over the loss of many lives and widespread damage to the property as a result of the devastating flood along the Nepal-China border - urged the government to take diplomatic measures to address the growing risk of such disasters arising from trans-boundary situations.
Several legislators expressed concern about the 'risk of GLOF' in various parts of China, urging the government to establish an information-sharing system and diplomatic collaboration. They emphasised the importance of taking action right away to mitigate potential losses in the future.
Lawmakers Rajendra Bajgain, Madhav Prasad Sapkota and Sher Bahadur Kunwar were among those who expressed concerns about the damage caused by the Lhende River (which later merges with the Bhotekoshi River) near the Nepal-China border in Rasuwagadhi. They also urged the government to ram up search and rescue efforts for the missing people.
