Fatal Flash Flood

With the rainy season in its midst, rain-induced floods and landslides have hit different parts of Nepal. But a flash flood that left at least nine people dead, 19 missing and Nepal-China border dry port and several hydropower plants in Rasuwagadhi damaged on Tuesday morning tells a different facet of natural disaster. Experts are scratching their heads to find the exact causes behind this disaster. Prior to the floods that struck the people off guard, no rainfall was recorded either on Tibetan or the Nepali side in the area. They said it would take at least two days to ascertain the cause of the flood. The most probable reason they guess is an event of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that occurs when water from a glacial lake suddenly overflows, causing unprecedented destruction of lives and properties. 

 In this mountain region, around 10 glacial lakes are located in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Meteorologists will study the possibility of GLOF occurring through the satellite images after the weather becomes clear. According to a news report carried by this daily, avalanches and permafrost melting are also suspected as factors behind the flash flood. As the floods wreaked havoc on the northern border, experts from both Nepal and China should jointly study the causes of the floods that entered Bhotekoshi from the Tibet region at around 3:00 am on Tuesday. With the water levels rising along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts early in the morning, a warning SMS was sent to relevant authorities and residents in riverine areas at 6:30 am. 

Despite the early warning, people lost their lives. It seems the warning was not communicated to the residents effectively in time or the latter took it for granted, as the areas did not witness the heavy rainfall. The flood washed away sixty-four vehicles, including 23 cargo containers, six freight trucks and thirty-five brand-new electric vehicles. Two police personnel, namely Munna Thakur and Lokendra Bohora, have gone missing.  Nepali Army rescued 55 people from flood-prone areas via helicopters.  It also rescued a couple who clung to a tree to be saved from the flooded Trishuli River in Nuwakot. It severely damaged the dam site of the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project and the 20-megawatt Chilime Hydropower Plant.  

The 'Miteri Bridge', built over the Lhendey River, was also swept away, cutting off direct road connectivity with Kerung, China. Only five of the nine people who lost their lives in the flood have been identified so far. Nepal police have intensified the search operation to find 19 people who went missing. Search teams have been deployed in riverside areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Nawalparasi.  The sudden flash flood of Rashuwagadhi reminds us of how vulnerable humans are before the destructive force of nature. This indeed calls for effective preparedness against possible natural disasters. Investment should be made in resilient structures, an effective early warning system and community awareness about the dangers of rain-induced floods and landslides. Cross-border cooperation and weather-related information sharing are also equally important to save lives and properties from disasters.