Punam Phuyal
A flash flood is defined as sudden, fast-moving water that begins within three hours or 6 hours of heavy rainfall or dam or levee breaks, landslides, or glacier lake outbursts. A sudden glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) from Tibet destroyed the downstream on August 26. The deadliest flash flood hits two districts of Nepal. Millions of people become homeless, and thousands of casualties lose their lives. Approximately, the country lost around Rs. 8 billion worth of physical property, including bridges, powerhouses, factories, industries, settlements, hotels, restaurants, banks, hydropower, dams, vehicles, roads, and many more infrastructures.
According to the US Geological Survey, the detachment of glacial rock and ice from the northwest flank of Tsangbu Ri in Tibet, China, formed a rock ice avalanche from an altitude of about 5200 meters to 1200 meters down. The rock and ice debris fell in the glacial lake and created an energy equivalent to an earthquake of magnitude 5.2. The sudden movement on the lake resulted in an outburst of water. The fastest flowing water from the lake due to its burst is the major cause of the flash flood that highly affected the downstream: the Kyirong border, the banks of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, including the certain valley of Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
The flash flood started after an ice and rock avalanche from Tsangbu Ri, located in Tibet, fell on a glacial lake. The flood entered the upper Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River. The debris initially blocked the river and flooded with a large amount of ice, rocks, mud, and existing river water that rushed downstream after the failure of the blockage.
The flood propagated through the Lengde Khola and entered the Bhotekoshi and then the Trishuli river corridors. It mainly affects the area of Langtang National Park and the lower valley of the Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts located in the north of Kathmandu. It further extended to Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan.
The major affected area are:
The Rasuwa flood swept away houses, shops, vehicles, markets, and infrastructure around the Rasuwagadhi customs point. It disrupted roads and access to the area.
The flash flood swept away the houses, hotels, shops, roads, police posts, tourist buses, and roads connecting to Timure. The entire settlement has been converted into barren land due to flood.
The extensive damage occurs in Mailung. The rising river level swept away the roads, farmlands, and settlements around this area.
Betrawati is located on the corridor of the Trisuli River. The extensive flood damaged the settlement, roads, and bridges. The area was covered by debris, mud, and sediments after lowering of the water level in the river.
Trishuli bazaar is located on the bank of the Trishuli River. The corridor area was completely damaged due to the flood. The preliminary reports showed that around 60 houses were swept away, two concrete bridges were destroyed, and the Trisuli Multiple campus was also affected. The debris and mud damage homes, shops, and other infrastructure of the area.
Devighat and Dhunge are also located on the bank of Trisuli. The debris, mud, and high water current destroyed the infrastructure and killed several lives in these areas.
The flood continued downstream and swept away bridges connecting the Prithvi highway with the Dhading and Gorkha districts. The riverside of Galchhi, Gajuri, Malekhu, Ruwakot, and Majhimtar was highly affected by debris and mud carried by flood.
Yes, Nepal is safe to travel to after the 2026 flash flood. Only the Langtang trek route is unsafe due to damage caused by flood. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the Kerung route is not possible, but we can do it from Tatopani or Hilsa.
The popular trekking routes to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, the Manaslu Circuit, the Annapurna Circuit, the Mardi Himal, and many more trekking and tours in the eastern and western is completely safe.
The uncertain flash flood in Nepal has become a nightmare for all Nepalese and people in the world who love the country. The country was growing smoothly after the Gen Z protest, and again it has been hit by a devastating catastrophic flood that swept away 40 km of road, 35 concrete bridges, 45 suspension bridges, 13 hydro power projects, and thousands of people. Only 675 dead bodies have been found to date. Thousands of people become homesick, and many are out of contact. 320 foreigners are still missing. In all, 4451 casualties are rescued from the affected area. Besides, damages and loss on the northern side of the Kahmandu Valley, the other part of the country is safe to travel. We can easily do trekking and tours on other parts of the country, leaving Langtang National Park.
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