Nepal has been placed on high alert following reports of a dam breach on the Tibetan side, which has caused water levels in the Bhote Koshi River to rise and triggered concerns about another major flood surge downstream.
The Nepal Police and the Flood Forecasting Division of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) have issued an urgent alert for communities located along the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani river systems.
Authorities have intensified preparedness measures in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, advising residents in vulnerable settlements to stay alert and relocate to safer areas if the situation deteriorates.
In response to the heightened risk, dozers, heavy equipment and rescue teams working in damaged and flood-prone areas around Bidur, the headquarters of Nuwakot, and Trishuli Bazaar have been moved to safer locations.
Officials said security forces have also stopped movement along roads near the Nepal-China border and areas close to riverbanks because of the potential threat.
Search-and-rescue personnel and residents in vulnerable parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Nawalparasi have been instructed to remain on standby for possible evacuation.
Authorities remain concerned about unstable water bodies and barrier lakes in Tibet, which could trigger additional outburst floods.
The warning comes as Nepal continues to cope with the devastating impact of the August 26 flash floods, which claimed more than 470 lives and caused widespread destruction after a massive high-altitude glacial collapse near the Tibet border.
The earlier flood surge carried huge volumes of water, ice and debris through the Lhende Khola into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. Bridges, highways, hydropower facilities and settlements along the riverbanks were severely damaged or swept away.
The disaster also disrupted approximately 431 MW of electricity-generation capacity, while rescue and search operations remain underway in affected areas.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid travelling along river-valley highways and other high-risk routes until further notice, warning that the possibility of another major flood surge remains.
