The Chinese side has said that although debris-laden flooding has increased again in the Bhotekoshi River area of Rasuwa, the lake formed after the river was blocked in the upper reaches remains stable.
Nepal sought clarification from the Chinese side after the flow of debris-laden water increased again in the Bhotekoshi area, which was hit by flooding on Wednesday morning.
"The water flow has increased. An ice-rock avalanche had previously occurred in the lower riparian area. However, the upper area where the river was blocked to form a lake appears stable. There is no immediate risk of the lake bursting and causing a major flood," a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Setopati, quoting the Chinese side.
“The water level is rising, and the size of the lake is increasing. Water is continuously overflowing, but there has been no major rupture or breach,” the source added.
The Chinese side said that it is monitoring the situation and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available, according to the source.
Earlier, 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 stated.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has 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 remains because the amount of debris in the upper catchment area has 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 – have been urged to remain on high alert.
People living along riverbanks and in other potentially vulnerable areas have also been strongly urged to move to safer locations immediately if they notice even the slightest sign of danger.
Earlier, Nepal Police also urged people in riverside areas to remain safe after receiving information that a dam on the Tibetan side had reportedly burst again. The warning came after the Chinese side informed Nepali authorities on Friday that a lake formed by accumulated water in Tibet had burst.
"As information has been received that a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side, all security personnel, rescue workers, and the general public engaged in rescue and relief operations are requested to immediately remain alert and move to safe locations, or inform others," police said.
Nepal Army spokesperson and Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet also said that aerial reconnaissance had been carried out by helicopter.
On Wednesday, a flood triggered by the bursting of a glacial lake in the Tibetan region affected districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. Security agencies have since been carrying out rescue operations in those areas.
