Nepal Issues Fresh Flood Warning as Bhote Koshi Water Level Rises

August 30, 2026

Kathmandu: Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has issued a fresh flood warning after the water level and flow in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa rose again, urging residents and those involved in search, rescue and relief operations to remain alert.

In a notice issued on Sunday morning, the authority urged people staying along riversides and those engaged in relief and rescue operations in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan to exercise caution.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division under Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the water level in the Trishuli River downstream of Bhote Koshi in the Galchhi area of Dhading has risen around 3 metres above usual levels.

The rise has been attributed to flooding from the Bhote Koshi area of Rasuwa. The Flood Forecasting Division had earlier recorded the river level above 14 metres in Dhading on August 26.

Fresh Alert Issued for Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading

The NDRRMA has also warned of a possible further rise in water levels after reports of increased flow and a louder roar from the Bhote Koshi River.

The District Administration Office in Rasuwa received information about the increased flood flow and urged people in areas around the river extending towards Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading to remain cautious.

Authorities have particularly asked communities living near the riverbank, including areas close to the Nepal-China border, to closely monitor the situation. Emergency services and local administration units in Nuwakot and Dhading have also been placed on alert.

An NDRRMA notice said all those involved in search, rescue and relief operations in the affected districts should remain vigilant.

Natural Dam Raises Fresh Flood Risk

The NDRRMA has been repeatedly warning about the possibility of another major flood because the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, has been obstructed.

Based on a preliminary analysis of a satellite image taken at 11:44 a.m. on August 27, the authority said the flow of the Lhende Khola appeared to have been obstructed in an upstream area around 18 km from the Rasuwagadhi border point.

The obstruction has resulted in the formation of a lake covering approximately 0.11 square kilometres, according to the authority.

The NDRRMA warned that the natural dam holding back the lake could potentially burst and trigger another major flood. It also said a preliminary assessment indicated that additional lakes may have formed in the area.

An official of Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said there was not much immediate risk as people had already moved away from riverside areas.

Nepal Flood Death Toll Reaches 675

Meanwhile, the massive flood that struck Nepal on August 26 has so far claimed 675 lives, while 2,498 people remain out of contact, including 589 foreigners, according to the latest figures cited by the NDRRMA.

The latest update also said 2,418 people remained missing or out of contact as of 6:30 pm, according to figures reported separately.

The catastrophic flooding has triggered extensive search, rescue and relief operations across several affected districts.

Four Indians Rescued From Rasuwa Hydropower Project

Meanwhile, four Indian nationals trapped at a hydropower project in Rasuwa were rescued as search and emergency operations continued across Nepal following the flash floods, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The rescued Indians were identified as Ripu Kumar, Chaneshwar Narzary, Kripa Shankar and Mohammed Minhajuddin. They are being transported to Kathmandu.

According to figures released by the MEA, 88 Indian nationals have so far been rescued from flood-affected areas.

The latest update also said 287 Indian nationals and 128 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) remain unaccounted for across the affected areas.

The fresh Bhote Koshi warning comes as Nepal continues large-scale rescue and relief operations following the devastating August 26 floods, with authorities closely monitoring river levels and the unstable natural obstruction in the Lhende Khola.