Flood Threat Looms Over Nepal as Lake Bursts in Tibet, Raising Bhote Koshi River Levels

August 28, 2026

Kathmandu, August 28: Nepal is once again facing a significant flood threat. Authorities reported on Friday that the risk of flooding has resurfaced in the country. This warning follows reports of a lake bursting in the Tibetan region of China, which could lead to renewed flooding in Nepal.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued a notice on Friday, stating that water levels have risen again in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwagadhi district, the same area that experienced severe flooding on August 26.

The authority cautioned that another flood is likely. Therefore, all personnel involved in relief and rescue operations along the banks of the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, as well as residents in high-risk areas, must remain vigilant.

Nepal Police also issued a separate warning, emphasizing the need for caution among both the public and rescue workers due to the lake burst in Tibet.

This new warning comes as Nepal is still recovering from the devastating floods on August 26, which have claimed 469 lives, with 977 individuals still missing, including 517 foreign nationals.

Earlier, the Water Resources Research and Development Center, under Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, referenced information from China, indicating that the water from the blocked river’s lake has not fully drained.

In a statement released Thursday night, the center noted, “Therefore, we cannot completely rule out the possibility of another sudden increase in water flow in the upper Bhote Koshi region. Continuous monitoring of the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system is essential.”

The center further stated that the situation in the upper Bhote Koshi area, where the river was obstructed, has not yet returned to normal. Thus, the threat in the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani river systems cannot be considered fully mitigated. In light of the potential for another flood, authorities have instructed security forces and rescue teams stationed along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers to remain on high alert.