Nepal faces fresh flood threat as landslide creates lake near China border

Punjab Newsline | Kathmandu

Nepal is facing the threat of another major flood after a massive landslide blocked the Lhende River near the Nepal-China border, creating a lake that is steadily filling with water.

China has reported that the water has accumulated in the Lhende River, around 18 km upstream from the Rasuwagadhi border point. The newly formed lake covers an estimated 0.11 square kilometres, and there are concerns that it could burst if the water level continues to rise.

Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has urged people living in the lower areas of the Bhotekoshi River to stay away from riverbanks and move to safer locations. A breach of the temporary lake could trigger another sudden rise in water levels and cause severe flooding along the Bhotekoshi.

The latest disaster has already claimed 359 lives, with bodies recovered from eight districts. Chitwan has reported the highest number of deaths at 132, followed by East Nawalparasi with 82. Around 1,500 people are still reported missing, including 288 Indian nationals.

At least 21 Indians have been rescued so far, with 11 of them identified. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, a total of 54 Indian citizens have been evacuated from flood-hit areas in Nepal. They include 33 employees of the Trishuli-1 project and 21 people from Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, strong tremors were felt near the Nepal-China border at around 8:37 am on Wednesday. The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the incident as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake.

However, it was later established that a large section of the mountain, along with snow and rocks, had collapsed into the Lhende Khola River. The Lhende Khola is a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, which originates in China and enters Nepal.

The USGS subsequently clarified that the tremor, initially associated with an earthquake of around 5.2 magnitude, was caused by the landslide.

Authorities are now closely monitoring the water level in the newly formed lake amid fears that its collapse could unleash another devastating flood downstream.