Today is a tragic day for Nepal. A devastating flash flood has swept through several human settlements from Rasuwa to Dhading, causing widespread destruction and leaving scores of people missing. It is being described as one of the most severe floods in Nepal’s recent history.
According to ICIMOD, water levels in the Bhote Koshi basin began rising rapidly around 9:00 AM local time on August 26. The flood breached riverbanks and traveled downstream through the Bhote Koshi River into the Trishuli River, with potential impacts extending into Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and partner institutions in Nepal and China are investigating whether the flood may have been triggered by an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude area.
ICIMOD said: “Preliminary assessments based on video footage and information from affected areas suggest that a large volume of ice and rock debris may have entered the Lende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River. Researchers say the event could have generated a sudden surge that carried water, sediment, and large boulders downstream.” Hydrological observations indicate the exceptional speed and magnitude of the flood wave. Water levels on the Trishuli River at Galchchi reportedly rose by as much as nine meters within 30 minutes, while levels at Malekhu increased by seven meters over a similar period, ICIMOD said.
Several water monitoring stations along the Trishuli River were reportedly damaged or washed away during the event, although the Galchchi monitoring station remains operational. “The same site devastated by last year’s Rasuwa flood is once again under threat,” said Qianggong Zhang, Head of Climate and Environmental Risks at ICIMOD. “An ice avalanche in the Lende Khola is the suspected trigger, but the cause remains unconfirmed. With a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border, authorities warn a second flood is imminent, and evacuation orders are now in place for Jilong port.”
The flood has reportedly caused significant damage to infrastructure in the affected areas, including hydrological monitoring stations. Several hydropower facilities are located along the Bhote Koshi River and connected river systems.
“The increasing frequency of cryosphere hazards is becoming more visible than ever before. The pace of change is so rapid that current efforts are struggling to keep up,” said Mohd. Farooq Azam, Senior Cryosphere Specialist at ICIMOD. “Today’s disaster in the Lende Khola underscores the need for stronger regional collaboration, with governments taking coordinated action to respond to cross-border hazards.”
Experts at ICIMOD are continuing to analyze hydrological, seismic, remote-sensing, and field data to better understand what triggered the event and to assess ongoing risks to downstream communities.
According to the Armed Police Force (APF), the death toll has exceeded 100, while dozens of people have been rescued. Hundreds are missing. Hundreds of others have been displaced and are stranded in difficult terrain without adequate food or shelter. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, and rescue teams continue to search for those who are missing.
The disaster has brought back painful memories of previous tragedies. In 2021, a powerful flood swept through several villages in Melamchi, Sindhupalchowk, a district bordering China. In 2024, floods and landslides also caused extensive damage in central Nepal. But the scale and suddenness of the current disaster have created an unprecedented challenge for authorities.
Throughout the day, government and private helicopters have been mobilized for rescue operations. Dozens of people have been airlifted to hospitals in nearby districts and to Kathmandu. Despite these efforts, many people remain stranded and are desperately waiting to be rescued.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives in the floods in Rasuwa and assured affected families that the government stands with them. In a Facebook post, Shah said he was posting with an extremely heavy heart, adding that the loss of human lives and property had left the entire country stunned.
The destruction has extended far beyond residential areas. Dozens of trucks were swept away from the Rasuwagadhi border point, while customs offices were severely damaged. Scores of Nepali traders remain missing. Local branches of several banks have also been completely swept away, with some employees still unaccounted for.
Forty-four members of the Nepal Army are also reportedly out of contact in the flood-affected areas of Rasuwa. Several bridges have been damaged or destroyed, further complicating rescue and relief efforts.
It remains unclear how many people are still missing. Eyewitnesses continue to report that family members, friends, and colleagues have disappeared in the floods. More than a dozen hydropower projects operating along the riverbanks have reportedly been swept away, with scores of workers still missing. There are also reports that security personnel deployed to protect several hydropower projects are unaccounted for.
The flooding has also dealt a major blow to Nepal’s electricity system. Severe damage to hydropower projects and transmission lines in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and other districts has taken a total of 431.1 megawatts of electricity capacity out of the national grid.
The disaster has also affected tourists. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, over 400 tourists remain missing following the floods, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals. Indian nationals account for the largest number of missing foreign tourists, with 133 reported missing. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 133 Indian, 34 Australian, 24 Canadian, 33 British, and 47 American tourists are reported missing in the flood-ravaged areas.
The exact cause of the devastating flood remains uncertain. Dinkar Kayastha, spokesperson for the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said the disaster may have been triggered by a glacial lake outburst, a possibility also raised by experts. However, it remains unclear whether authorities had issued any prior warning.
Speaking in Parliament, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said preliminary information suggested that an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche, which in turn caused the massive flood. He stressed, however, that the information still needs to be verified.
Chinese authorities have reportedly informed their Nepali counterparts that the disaster was not caused by heavy rainfall on the Chinese side. Experts have yet to reach a definitive conclusion about the actual cause. Nepali and Chinese authorities are in constant communication in Kathmandu to determine the reasons behind the issue and to discuss the sharing of relevant information.
Meanwhile, the international community has begun offering assistance to Nepal. India has assured Nepal of all possible humanitarian support following the devastating loss of life. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed his condolences over the deaths caused by the floods.
“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time,” Modi said.
He added that India was ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance and that Indian teams were coordinating closely with Nepal on rescue and relief operations. As rescue efforts continue, Nepal faces an enormous humanitarian challenge. The number of casualties and missing persons could rise as authorities reach areas that remain cut off by damaged roads, destroyed bridges, and continuing disruptions. For families waiting for news of their loved ones, every passing hour is filled with uncertainty and anguish. As a first responder to crisis, India has dispatched 10 tonnes of HADR assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods.
