Preliminary report says earthquake-triggered avalanche may have caused Rasuwa flood: Foreign Minister Khanal

Setopati

Kathmandu, Aug 26

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said that the government has received preliminary information that the flooding in Rasuwa may have been caused by an avalanche triggered by an earthquake in the Tibetan region.

Providing an update on the incident on behalf of the government, Khanal said that the flood had caused damage in areas including Timure and Syafrubesi in Rasuwa, as well as Trishuli, Betravati, and Battar in Nuwakot.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Khanal said that the government had received information that an earthquake struck the area at 8:37 a.m. on Wednesday.

“According to preliminary information, an earthquake occurred in the area at 8:37 a.m., triggering an avalanche, which then caused the flood,” Khanal said. “This information needs to be further verified.”

He also said that the government had received information that some Nepali citizens had already lost their lives in the incident.

Khanal told the House that the flood occurred at around 8:40 a.m.