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The lake’s water volume has now crossed 2.5 million cubic metres, compared with an estimated 1.5-2 million cubic metres recorded by Chinese engineers a day earlier.
Image of the barrier lake, near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers. (Source: X)
Nepal and China on Friday temporarily suspended rescue operations in the flood-hit areas after a lake created by debris from Wednesday’s catastrophic flash floods began overflowing, raising fears of another surge in already devastated areas.
Nepal Halts Rescue Ops For 90 Mins
Authorities in Nepal’s Rasuwa district ordered a halt to rescue efforts for 90 minutes on Friday after receiving information that the makeshift lake had breached its banks.
Helicopter operations were also suspended, while residents in vulnerable areas were seen scrambling towards higher ground.
Narendra Pariyar, the senior-most bureaucrat in Rasuwa, said officials had been alerted to the development downstream.
“We can see that the level of water in the river is rising,” he said, adding that authorities did not yet know how high the river had risen.
China Suspends Operations Near Gyirong Border
China also pulled its rescue personnel and vehicles out of the danger zone near the Gyirong border crossing after the barrier lake started overflowing.
Also Read: Fresh Flood Threat For Nepal: Tibetan Barrier Lake Breaks Banks, Rescue Teams Moved To Safety
State broadcaster CCTV warned that a breach could trigger further flooding as well as secondary disasters, including landslides and avalanches.
Barrier Lake Holds 2 Million Cubic Metres Of Water
The barrier lake, near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, was created when huge quantities of rock, ice, mud and other debris were swept through Himalayan river systems following a glacier collapse on Wednesday.
Its water volume has now crossed 2.5 million cubic metres, compared with an estimated 1.5-2 million cubic metres recorded by Chinese engineers a day earlier.
Another Flash Flood?
China had deployed an eight-member engineering team to assess the lake using aerial surveys and 3D modelling. Engineers estimated the reservoir to be around 150 metres long and 40-50 metres deep.
China has warned that another 3 million cubic metres of water could enter the lake over the next three days, with the highest inflow expected around September 1. Rainfall around the Gyirong border port has further increased concern, as wet conditions could destabilise the surrounding rock and soil.
China Sounds Level-IV Emergency Alert
China had already sounded a Level-IV emergency alert on Thursday night, warning that the newly formed barrier lake near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers could breach and send floodwaters into downstream areas.
The alert was issued by China’s Ministry of Water Resources for the Tibet Autonomous Region as authorities monitored the rapidly growing lake.
The two rivers originate in Tibet before flowing into Nepal as part of the Bhote Koshi river system. China’s disaster-response framework has four alert levels, with Level-I being the highest and Level-IV the lowest.
Death Toll Reaches 500 As Rescue Ops Continue
The latest threat emerged as rescuers were still searching for survivors and recovering bodies from Wednesday’s disaster, which devastated settlements, roads and bridges along a major route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa.
Nepal’s confirmed death toll has climbed to 469, while close to 1,000 people remain missing across Nepal and Tibet. At least 540 foreigners are among those unaccounted for.
The flash flood swept through villages and valleys with enormous force, destroying infrastructure and leaving thousands cut off from the outside world.
Nepalese rescue teams have been using helicopters to evacuate survivors and deliver essential supplies, while emergency personnel, including sniffer-dog teams, have been searching for victims.
Dramatic footage from Wednesday showed torrents of muddy water and debris sweeping through the border crossing within moments, engulfing buildings and catching people attempting to flee.
With inputs from Reuters, PTI
Quick Answers
Ask News18Yes, similar glacier collapses could happen again in the Himalayas, as experts warn that the region remains at risk of further flooding. The Hindu Kush Himalayas are already prone to hazards like landslides and glacial lake outburst floods. Climate change is creating conditions that destabilise high-altitude ice, increasing the risk of catastrophic floods and avalanches. There are 42 glacial lakes in Nepal identified as highly risky.
Ask News18About the Author
Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More
Kathmandu, Nepal
August 28, 2026, 12:43 IST
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