Glacial lake burst likely caused Rasuwa flood, say experts

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that the recent flood in the Lhende River, located at the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa, was likely caused by a glacial lake outburst.

Flood expert Binod Parajuli said a study using the ‘Sentinel’ satellite showed that a supraglacial lake had burst, releasing water and causing the flood. This lake was located about 36 kilometers above Rasuwagadhi, at an altitude of around 5,150 meters.

According to Parajuli, the lake was originally about 0.75 square kilometers in size, but after the flood, its size reduced to around 0.60 square kilometers. This change indicates that a large amount of water was released from the lake, which likely triggered the flood downstream.

He added that further reports from China are expected and more satellite images in the coming days will help confirm the findings. The department will continue monitoring the situation.

Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have also confirmed that a glacial lake burst in the Lhende River caused the flood in the Bhotekoshi area of Rasuwa.