The government has said that despite reports of increased water flow in the upper reaches on the Tibetan side, there is no indication of an immediate major risk.
However, the government has urged people to remain on high alert, citing that the flow of debris-laden water has increased again in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river areas.
Speaking to journalists after the Cabinet meeting, government spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel said that while authorities had received information about increased water flow in the upper reaches, there was no need for immediate panic.
He said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority had informed the government that the flow of debris-laden water had increased somewhat in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river areas and that the risk of further flooding remained.
“There is no need to panic. But we would like to urge everyone to remain alert,” Minister Pokharel said.
He urged security personnel, rescue workers, and volunteers involved in rescue and relief efforts along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers – as well as those who are in risk-prone areas for various reasons – to exercise extreme caution.
He also asked people to move to safe locations immediately if they notice any signs of danger.
According to Minister Pokharel, Nepal has been in continuous communication with the Chinese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said that the Chinese side had also reported that there was currently no major risk.
“We have been in continuous communication with the Chinese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese side has also been telling us that there is no major risk at present,” he said. “However, we have urged everyone to remain alert.”
Minister Pokharel also clarified that reports of a dam burst on the Tibetan side were incorrect.
According to him, glaciers had ruptured and water had overflowed in some places, causing debris-laden water to flow downstream.
“There is no dam breach. Glaciers have broken in some places, and overflow has occurred in many places, resulting in debris-laden water flowing at various locations,” he said. “No immediate major risk has been identified, but it is necessary to remain alert.”
Earlier, after the flow of debris-laden water increased again in the Bhotekoshi area of Rasuwa, Nepal had sought updated information from the Chinese side.
A Foreign Ministry source said that the Chinese side had informed Nepal that the lake formed after the river was blocked in the upper reaches remained stable and that there was no immediate risk of the lake bursting and causing a major flood.
According to the Chinese side, however, water flow was continuing to increase.
The upper area, where an ice-rock avalanche had previously blocked the river and formed a lake, was reported to be stable. Although water was continuously overflowing from the lake, there had been no major rupture or breach, Nepal was informed.
The Chinese side has also pledged to provide Nepal with further information as soon as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting Division issued a notice at 12:31 p.m. on Friday, stating that flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa was increasing and had reached Syafrubesi.
"As the flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa is rising and has reached Syafrubesi, people in the coastal and riverside areas of the Trishuli River (up to Muglin) are requested to remain on high alert and stay in safe locations until further notice," the division said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority also urged people to exercise extreme caution, citing the increased risk of another debris-laden flood in the Bhotekoshi River area of Rasuwa.
In a statement issued on Friday, the authority said that it had received information that the flow of debris-laden water had increased again in the same area that was hit by a devastating flood on August 26.
The authority said that the risk of further flooding remained because the amount of debris in the upper catchment area had increased.
In a notice signed by Shanti Mahat, the authority’s joint secretary and spokesperson, security personnel, volunteers, and members of the public involved in rescue and relief work along the banks of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers – as well as anyone in high-risk areas for other reasons – were urged to remain on high alert.
People living along riverbanks and in other potentially vulnerable areas were especially urged to move to safer locations immediately if they notice even the slightest sign of danger.
Earlier, Nepal Police had urged people in riverside areas to remain safe, citing reports that a dam on the Tibetan side had burst again. However, subsequent communication with the Chinese side indicated that there had been no dam breach; rather, glaciers had ruptured in some areas and water had overflowed in the upper reaches.
Nepal Army spokesperson and Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet also said that aerial reconnaissance had been carried out by helicopter.
The devastating flooding in the Bhotekoshi on August 26 caused major loss of life and property in Rasuwa and downstream areas. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and other districts were severely affected by the disaster.
