Did Chinese Construction Trigger Avalanche Which Caused Nepal Flood? Journalist Group Makes Big Claim

Last Updated:August 26, 2026, 6:58 PM IST

Nepal journalists alleged Chinese construction along the border damaged fragile ecosystems, triggering recurring avalanches that could cause flash floods.

Visuals of flash floods in northern Nepal. (Source: X)

A group of Nepali journalists operating under the name Nepal Correspondence has claimed that the massive flash flood that hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday was linked to an avalanche caused by Chinese construction activity in the Himalayas.

The group alleged that construction in glacial areas along the China-Nepal border had damaged the sensitive ecosystem and contributed to recurring avalanches, which in turn could trigger flash floods.

Construction Near Gyirong

In a post on X, Nepal Correspondence claimed that Chinese “Xiaokang settlements” at glacial altitudes had contributed to an ecological disaster and that avalanches were now occurring annually along the China-Nepal border.

The group claimed Wednesday’s flood was triggered near Gyirong town in Tibet.

According to the post, the town was constructed after cutting hills and was built on the natural course of the Trishuli river. The group alleged that construction had damaged the ecosystem around glacial peaks, resulting in avalanches that could cause flash floods in Nepal.

It also alleged that the Gyirong port on the Rasuwa border was constructed at a river confluence, which, according to the group, increases the speed of water flowing towards Nepal.

The journalists described the alleged environmental damage as a “purposeful ecological disaster” and called on Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah to raise the matter with China.

However, an expert claimed that the landslide originated in the Nepal side and has nothing to do with China.

“Post-event satellite imagery shows that the landslide originated on the slopes of Langtang Lirung, on the Nepalese side of the border. This tragedy had nothing to do with Chinese settlements, beyond the misguided construction at the valley-bottom,” said Nathan Ruser, an analyst with Australian policy institute.

News18 could not independently verify the claims made by the Nepali journalist group.

Journalist Raises Early Warning Question

Separately, Nepali journalist Parshuram Kaphle took aim at China over what he said was a failure to provide an early warning before the flash floods.

Kaphle, a Foreign and Strategic Affairs journalist, said Nepal’s “northern neighbour” had failed to warn Kathmandu about the scale of the disaster.

In a post on X, he said China had “significantly undermined” Nepal by failing to provide an early warning of the massive floods.

“By failing to provide early warning of such a massive disaster, we suffered immense loss of human life,” Kaphle wrote. He alleged that Nepal had repeatedly faced crises originating from Chinese territory.

Kaphle also questioned why Nepal should continue to bear the cost of what he described as a “one-sided love”.

“We have continually faced crises originating from their territory, while we continue to address all their concerns, necessary or unnecessary. Why must Nepal alone pay the price of one-sided love?” he wrote.

Massive Flood Hits Rasuwa

The claims came after a massive flash flood struck areas near Nepal’s Tibet border on Wednesday, August 26.

The sudden surge of water from the Tibetan side entered the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am in Nepal’s Rasuwa district. The flood caused destruction in the Timure and Syapru Besi areas, damaging settlements, vehicles and infrastructure.

Authorities were scrambling to assess the damage and speed up rescue and relief operations, particularly for people living along riverbanks.

The sudden flooding has now triggered questions over its possible cause, with the Nepal Correspondence group alleging a link to construction and avalanches near the border, while Kaphle has separately raised questions over the absence of an early warning from China.

However, the claims linking Chinese construction to the flash flood could not be independently verified.

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Chinese construction along the border has been alleged to damage fragile ecosystems, potentially triggering recurring avalanches that could lead to flash floods. Additionally, construction activities near rivers can alter their natural flow.

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Shuddhantha PatraSenior Sub-Editor

Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More

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