Nepal Flood Disaster: A Developing Humanitarian Crisis

 

On the morning of Wednesday, 26 August, at around 8:30 a.m., a sudden and massive flood entered the Bhote Koshi River from the Chinese border/Tibetan side at Rasuwagadhi and swept downstream through Rasuwa and Nuwakot before joining the Trishuli River.

With no significant rainfall reported in the district, a preliminary assessment by Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, based on satellite imagery, suggests that the disaster may have been triggered by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Lhende River, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the border. The exact cause, however, remains under investigation.

Several towns and settlements, including Timure, Syabrubesi, Hakubesi, Mailung, Shantibazaar and Betrawati, have been severely affected. Some settlements have reportedly been completely devastated, while others have suffered extensive damage. The full scale of the loss of life is still unclear, but initial reports indicate substantial casualties.

The physical destruction is also extensive. Around 42 kilometres of roads, several concrete bridges, nearly 10 hydropower projects and transmission facilities have reportedly been damaged. Telephone and electricity services remain disrupted across much of the affected corridor, while the office of Uttargaya Rural Municipality has reportedly been washed away.

At present, information from the Rasuwa–Nuwakot corridor remains extremely limited. Disrupted communications have made it difficult to reach affected communities and establish the whereabouts of our members and their families living in these settlements. Reports from the ground indicate a rapidly rising number of casualties, while a preliminary list released by the Nepal Tourism Board reportedly includes more than 1,000 people who are missing or currently out of contact, including foreign nationals. Security personnel, customs officials, bank employees and hydropower workers are also among those reported missing.

Among those affected are numerous peasant families who lived and cultivated land along the banks of the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Their vulnerability is particularly acute because their homes, agricultural land and livelihoods are concentrated along the riverbanks. It may take several days, once communications are restored, to understand the full extent of this human and material devastation.

The Government of Nepal, political parties and civil society organisations have mobilised their cadres, members and networks alongside security forces and local authorities to support search, rescue and relief operations. Nepal is facing a devastating disaster. The coming days will be critical for rescue, relief and recovery. Our solidarity remains with all those affected