Another massive flood in Bhotekoshi

A massive flood has hit the Bhotekoshi river flowing through the Nepal-China border during the early hours of Wednesday, heavily deluging the areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers flowing through Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.           

The flood has submerged the Uttargayadham area on the border between the two districts. No casualties have been reported so far.            

According to the Nepal Police, the flood started around 2 AM and has obstructed the roadway across various sections of the Syaphrubensi-Rasuwagadhi stretch, eroding 15 metres and an additional seven metres of the Pasang Lhamu Highway in wards 2 and 3, respectively, in Rasuwa’s Gosaikunda Rural Municipality.          

Further, the flood has washed away a weighing station at the Timure customs yard, stated the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).  

Rasuwa district, still recovering from the devastating Bhotekoshi flash flood earlier this month, now grapples with additional damage. The previous incident that left 11 dead and 17 missing had also washed away the friendship bridge joining the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung customs point—Nepal’s second major trade route with China. While China has already started construction of a Bailey bridge at the customs point, Wednesday’s flood has resulted in a halt in the ongoing work.         

On July 28, the Rasuwa district administration office issued a disaster warning of possible floods in the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, Langtang, and Chilime rivers, urging people to stay alert.

As the flood reached Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot at 3:55 AM, the Assistant Chief District Officer, Krishna Prasad Humagain, stated that the flood caused erosion in several areas of the district, including Pairebensi, Betrawati, Trishuli, and Devighat. With warnings of the flood entering residential areas, the administration urged people to stay highly alert.

Likewise, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, earlier this morning, also issued an advisory given the possible flash floods for Rasuwa, Dhading and Nuwakot.