Kathmandu, Aug 2026 : Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has issued a fresh flood warning after water levels in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district rose further, prompting authorities to urge residents and rescue teams to remain on high alert.
In a notice issued on Sunday morning, the NDRRMA advised people involved in search, rescue and relief operations in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan to exercise caution. Those living or working near riverbanks were also asked to remain vigilant amid concerns over rising water levels.
The Flood Forecasting Division of Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reported that the water level in the Trishuli River at Galchhi in Dhading district, downstream from the Bhote Koshi, had risen around three metres above normal levels.
The area has already witnessed dangerous flooding in recent days. On August 26, the Trishuli River was recorded at more than 14 metres in Dhading, according to the Flood Forecasting Division.
Officials said the latest rise in the Trishuli was linked to flooding originating in the Bhote Koshi area of Rasuwa. However, authorities indicated that the immediate threat to people living along the riverbanks was relatively limited because many residents had already moved to safer locations.
“There is not much risk as people have already moved away from the riverside areas,” an official from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.
Despite the relocation of residents, authorities remain concerned about the possibility of another major flood because of an obstruction in the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River.
According to the NDRRMA, a preliminary assessment of satellite imagery captured at 11:44 a.m. on August 27 showed that the flow of the Lhende Khola had been blocked in an upstream area approximately 18 kilometres from the Rasuwagadhi border point.
The obstruction has resulted in the formation of a lake estimated to cover around 0.11 square kilometres. Authorities warned that if the natural dam holding back the accumulated water were to collapse, a sudden release could trigger another major flood downstream.
The NDRRMA has therefore urged residents in downstream areas and all agencies involved in relief operations to exercise extreme caution and remain prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
The authority also said an initial assessment suggested that additional lakes may have formed in the affected area, adding to concerns over the stability of the terrain and the possibility of further flooding.
The latest warning comes as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of the massive floods that struck on August 26. According to the NDRRMA, the disaster has so far claimed 675 lives, while 2,498 people remain unaccounted for, including 589 foreign nationals.
With rescue and relief operations continuing, authorities are closely monitoring river levels and the unstable water bodies formed upstream. The latest alerts underline the continuing risks faced by communities and emergency personnel as Nepal works to respond to one of the country’s most severe recent flood disasters.
