KATHMANDU: A landslide in Tibet triggered the sudden and devastating flooding of the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on Wednesday, according to preliminary information received by Nepal’s disaster management authorities from China.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said it had received initial information indicating that a landslide in the Tibetan region caused a massive surge of water into the Bhotekoshi River.
Shanti Mahat, undersecretary and spokesperson for NDRRMA, said the information was informally communicated by Chinese authorities. Nepal is now seeking additional details to verify the cause of the sudden flood.
“Preliminary assessment by technical personnel in the area points to the landslide in Tibet as the main cause,” Mahat said, adding that a further investigation is underway.
Dinkar Kayastha, information officer at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said the department’s initial assessment also suggests that a landslide in Tibet triggered the sudden rise in water levels. “We have some colleagues in China who are trying to understand exactly what happened,” Kayastha said.
According to Kayastha, the department is gathering additional information through its personnel in China and coordinating with relevant authorities through diplomatic and technical channels to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
The sudden flooding caused extensive damage in Rasuwa, particularly in Timure and surrounding market areas. The flood swept away or damaged customs facilities, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Authorities are currently carrying out a detailed assessment to determine the full extent of the damage caused by the disaster.
Comment