International
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Nepal may be facing yet another flood threat, barely a day after a devastating flash flood swept through Rasuwa district, which borders Tibet.
Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in Rasuwa is an important overland gateway to Tibet for pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar. The journey from Kathmandu to the border takes around 6-8 hours. Pilgrims then cross into Tibet through Gyirong before continuing towards Kailash.
China warns a newly formed barrier lake near the Nepal-China border, containing 2 million cubic metres and expected to grow, could breach within three days, adding to flood concerns after recent Rasuwa events and a separate Lhende River blockage.
In a fresh warning, China’s Ministry of Water Resources has said that a newly formed barrier lake near the Nepal-China border could breach within the next three days, raising fears of another sudden surge of water downstream.
The lake has formed close to the meeting point of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers. By Thursday morning, it contained around 2 million cubic metres of water and had already begun overflowing, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Chinese authorities have warned that the situation could become more dangerous as another 3 million cubic metres of water is expected to flow into the lake. If the natural barrier holding back the water gives way, a large volume of water could rush downstream within a short period.
On the other hand, Nepal is also dealing with a separate blockage in the Lhende River. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the blockage is located about 18 kilometres upstream from the Rasuwagadhi border.
रसुवागढी नाकाबाट करिब १८ किलोमिटर माथि तटीय क्षेत्रमा ल्हेन्दे खोलाको बहाव अवरुद्ध भई करिब ०.११ वर्गकिलोमिटर क्षेत्रफलको ताल बनेको देखिएकोले पुनः ठूलो बाढी आउन सक्ने जोखिम रहेकाले तल्लो तटीय क्षेत्र सम्बन्धित सबैलाई आवश्यक सतर्कता अपनाउन तथा उच्च सावधानीका साथ रहन अनुरोध गरिन्छ। pic.twitter.com/FMOZloSiOs
— NDRRMA (@NDRRMA_Nepal) August 27, 2026
Water has accumulated behind the blockage, forming a lake covering around 0.11 square kilometres. The disaster management authority has asked people living downstream to remain cautious, warning that another major flood cannot be ruled out.
The fresh warning comes as rescue and assessment efforts continue following August 26th’s deadly flooding in Rasuwa.
An initial review of satellite images by Planet Labs suggested that a landslide involving snow and rocks near the Nepal-China border triggered a glacier-related flood in the Lhende River. The landslide occurred around 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
Scientists studying the satellite images, according to The Kathmandu Post, believe a huge mass of ice and rock fell into the area and blocked the river. The debris acted like a temporary dam, holding back water until the blockage eventually gave way.
That sent water and debris rushing downstream.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), cited by the BBC, said an ice-rock avalanche from a high-altitude area may have pushed a large amount of ice and rock into the Lende Khola.
The river eventually flows into the Bhote Koshi, and the sudden release sent a powerful surge downstream, carrying mud, sediment, rocks and water with it.
The scale and speed of the flooding made the situation especially dangerous. ICIMOD said water levels downstream rose by between seven and nine metres in just 30 minutes. Several monitoring stations were swept away or damaged in the flood.
Authorities are now watching the newly formed barrier lake closely. With the lake already overflowing and more water expected to enter it, people living downstream have been urged to stay alert and be prepared for another sudden rise in water levels.
