Nepal flood toll crosses 547 as Bhotekoshi water levels trigger fresh alert

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Aug 28, 2026 18:00 IST

Fears of a second wave of flash floods rose in Nepal on Friday after authorities issued a fresh warning over rising water levels in the Bhotekoshi River area, even as the death toll from the flood-related devastation crossed 547.

The warning came two days after a massive flash flood swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, killing hundreds and causing widespread damage to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

Nepal's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the rise in water level at the same site had increased the risk of another flood. "The water level mixed with mud has increased at the same place where the flash flood occurred on Wednesday, and there is a risk of more flooding in the area," the authority said in a fresh notice. It urged people involved in search and rescue operations, as well as those staying in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli areas for various reasons, to remain highly alert and move to safer places immediately if they faced any risk.

Earlier, Nepal Police issued an alert after receiving information that a water dam on the Tibetan side had burst again. "Information has been received that the water dam on the Tibetan side has burst again," Nepal Police said in a post on X. However, the Nepal government later said there was no information about any dam bursting. Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel said after Friday's Cabinet meeting that, "There is no information that a dam has burst anywhere. Since glaciers have broken off, water mixed with mud has overflowed in several places." She added, "No major immediate risk has been observed, but it is necessary to remain alert." Pokharel also said the government was in continuous communication with the Chinese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had been told there was no major risk.

Chinese authorities have also said water flow in the Bhotekoshi River area of Nepal's Rasuwa district has increased, but maintained that a lake formed upstream was stable and had not burst, according to the Rising Nepal Daily newspaper. Officials at Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chinese side attributed the increase in water flow in the upper reaches to an avalanche, while saying the lake formed after the river was blocked had not burst. According to the report, the Chinese side said the lake was increasing in size and water was continuously overflowing, but there had been no major outburst or rupture and no immediate risk of major flooding, while the situation was being monitored continuously.

On Thursday, Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had warned of a fresh flood risk downstream of the Bhote Koshi River after a new barrier lake formed near the Nepal-China border. Earlier, Chinese authorities had informed Nepal that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially entering it over three days, raising concerns about a possible breach. The lake formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which originate in Tibet and flow into Nepal as part of the Bhote Koshi river system. With water levels rising again and alerts in place, authorities have asked people in vulnerable areas to stay on guard as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of Wednesday's disaster.

With PTI Inputs

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