KATHMANDU, July 10: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has made a preliminary conclusion that the flood in the Lhendey River, located on the Nepal–China border in Rasuwa last Tuesday morning, was caused by a glacial lake outburst.
The department stated that a study conducted using the 'Sentinel' satellite indicated the flood was triggered by the bursting of a glacial lake. Binod Parajuli, a flood expert at the department, said the initial assumption is that the flood occurred due to the outburst of a supraglacial lake.
It was landslide dam outburst flood: ICIMOD expert
“It is located about 36 kilometers above Rasuwagadhi on the Nepal-China border (latitude: 28.4043, longitude: 85.6469, at an altitude of approximately 5,150 meters above sea level) in the upper catchment area of the Lhende River. The supraglacial lake (glacial lake) developed in the middle terrain of the glacier river spreads over an area of about 0.75 square kilometers,”he said. “However, the area of the lake was observed to be only about 0.60 square kilometers. The lake’s area changed before and after the flood event. The study showed that water drained from the lake during that period, which affected the area downstream of the lake.”
According to Parajuli, additional on-site reports from the friendly neighboring country, China, are expected regarding this matter. Furthermore, satellite images obtained in the coming days may provide further confirmation. The DHM will continue its ongoing studies. “There is a significant difference between the conditions before and after the flood, particularly a notable reduction in the lake’s area, indicating that water drained from the glacial lake,” he said.
Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have confirmed that the flood in Rasuwa’s BhoteKoshi River was caused by the bursting of a supraglacial lake formed in the Lhende River on the China-Nepal border.
