What Caused the Rasuwa Flood? Officials Suspect Dam Burst or Heavy Rainfall in China

A sudden and powerful flood in Rasuwa has caused major destruction, and officials are still trying to understand exactly what happened.

How Did the Flood Happen?

According to local officials, the flood occurred around 3 AM when a large amount of water mixed with debris came rushing down. Vehicles parked at the dry port in Timure were swept away, and many of the drivers and helpers went missing.

Eyewitness videos shared on social media show vehicles being carried away by the flood, people climbing trees to escape, and Nepal Army helicopters rescuing trapped individuals.

Rasuwa’s Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruva Prasad Adhikari confirmed that the flood struck suddenly and caused major damage. The Miteri Bridge, which connects Nepal and China, was washed away. The flood also damaged the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant, customs office, and several roads.

How Bad Was the Weather?

Surprisingly, officials say that the flood was not caused by heavy rain in Nepal. Instead, it’s believed that either a dam burst or very heavy rainfall in China led to the sudden rise in water levels.

Spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Suresh Sunar, said there was no sign of intense rain in Nepal that night. Meteorologist Pratibha Manandhar from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology also confirmed that rainfall in Rasuwa and nearby districts was only light to moderate.

For example, in Dhunche, only 39.4 mm of rain was recorded — not enough to cause such a massive flood.

Was a Dam Burst Involved?

Hydrologists believe that a temporary blockage upstream might have burst suddenly, causing the water level to spike. According to Dipendra Rijal, Assistant Hydrologist at the Flood Forecasting Division, the water level at Syafrubesi rose sharply to 5.37 meters at 3:40 AM, and then data stopped — likely because the flood washed away the measuring equipment.

At Betrabati, another river, the water level rose rapidly from 1.6 meters to 4.18 meters within 50 minutes. This sudden rise also points to the possibility of a dam or blockage upstream giving way.

Damage Assessment Ongoing

The full extent of the damage is still being collected. So far, 18 people are missing, including truck drivers, helpers, and locals, while rescue efforts continue. Teams from all three security agencies are involved in search and rescue.

The flood also washed away Syafrubesi’s flood monitoring equipment, and the Timure station has been out of order for months, making real-time tracking difficult.

Authorities Urge Caution

After seeing the rapid rise in water levels, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology sent SMS alerts to residents in high-risk areas, urging them to stay alert.

Officials continue to monitor the situation and are working to verify whether a dam failure in China triggered the flood that hit Rasuwa.