Kathmandu, August 27
A new flood threat has emerged in Rasuwa after the flow of the Lhende Khola was blocked upstream, creating a large lake and raising fears that a natural dam could burst.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said a preliminary analysis of satellite images showed that a lake covering around 0.11 square kilometres had formed about 18 kilometres upstream of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
The analysis was based on satellite images from Planet Labs and Landsat received at 11:44 am on Thursday.
The authority said the blockage of the river has created a natural dam whose stability remains uncertain. If the dam breaks, a large volume of water could rush downstream and trigger another major flood.
The warning comes a day after a devastating flash flood swept through Rasuwa, destroying settlements and infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi River. The cause and full extent of Wednesday’s disaster are still being assessed.
NDRRMA has urged residents and authorities in downstream areas to remain highly alert and take necessary precautions in view of the risk of a fresh flood.
The authority has also asked concerned agencies to closely monitor the situation and prepare for a possible sudden release of water from the upstream lake.
