Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued a fresh flood warning on Sunday, 30 August 2026, alerting that water levels in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district have risen further, compounding an already devastating flood crisis that has claimed 675 lives and left 2,498 people — including 589 foreigners — out of contact.

Fresh Alert and Affected Districts

The NDRRMA's Sunday morning notice urged all those engaged in search, rescue, and relief operations — as well as residents living along riversides — across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan districts to remain on high alert. 'All those engaged in search, rescue and relief operations in affected areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts, those staying along the riversides, and all other concerned are requested to remain alert,' the authority said in its notice.

Trishuli River Levels Surge 3 Metres Above Normal

According to the Flood Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the water level in the Trishuli River — downstream of the Bhote Koshi in the Galchhi area of Dhading district — has climbed 3 metres above usual levels. The surge is being attributed directly to flooding originating from the Bhote Koshi area of Rasuwa. Notably, on 26 August, flood levels in Dhading had already been recorded at more than 14 metres above normal, according to the same division.

A departmental official offered a measure of reassurance, saying, 'There is not much risk as people have already moved away from the riverside areas.' However, authorities have not stood down their warnings.

Blocked Tributary Raises Risk of Another Major Flood

The NDRRMA has been consistently cautioning about the potential for a secondary catastrophic flood. The trigger: the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, has been obstructed upstream. Based on a satellite image captured at 11:44 am on 27 August 2026, the authority confirmed that the flow of the Lhende Khola has been blocked approximately 18 kilometres from the Rasuwagadhi border point, resulting in the formation of a lake covering roughly 0.11 square kilometres.

'As there remains a risk that the natural dam holding back the lake could burst, potentially triggering another major flood, residents in downstream areas and all concerned are requested to remain alert and exercise extreme caution,' the NDRRMA said in a statement issued late Saturday. A preliminary assessment also indicates that additional lakes may have formed in the area, further elevating the threat.

Scale of the Disaster: 675 Dead, Hundreds of Foreigners Missing

The catastrophic flood that struck on 26 August has so far claimed 675 lives, according to the NDRRMA. A total of 2,498 people remain out of contact, a figure that includes 589 foreign nationals — a detail that has drawn international attention to the unfolding crisis. Search, rescue, and relief operations are ongoing across multiple districts.

What Comes Next

With the Lhende Khola blockage still unresolved and additional lakes possibly forming upstream, authorities warn that the risk of another major flood event remains live. The situation is being monitored through satellite imagery, and downstream communities are being kept on continuous alert. The coming days — particularly during any further rainfall — will be critical in determining whether the natural dam holds or gives way.