KATHMANDU: The Nepal Police and the Flood Forecasting Division under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) have issued an urgent high-alert notice for communities along the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani river corridors after receiving official notification of a fresh dam breach on the Tibetan side.
Search-and-rescue teams, security personnel, and residents in vulnerable downstream settlements across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi are urged to immediately evacuate to higher ground as expanding upstream barrier lakes in Tibet pose a critical risk of secondary outburst surges.
The high-alert warning comes as emergency responders grapple with the devastating aftermath of the August 26 flash floods.
Triggered by a massive high-altitude glacial collapse near the Tibet border, the initial surge sent torrents of water, ice, and debris tearing through the Lhende Khola into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
The disaster destroyed vital bridges, highways, and hydropower projects—cutting off roughly 431 MW of power grid capacity—and swept away entire riverfront settlements.
Combined casualty counts across Nepal and Tibet continue to mount rapidly as search operations proceed, with total reported fatalities exceeding 470 and hundreds of local residents, pilgrims, and foreign tourists remaining unaccounted for.
Authorities are advising extreme caution and halting movement along affected river-valley highway routes until further notice.
