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As Nepal’s flood death toll rises to 659, an ex-minister has questioned China’s failure to share timely warnings before the disaster.
A drone view shows mud covering properties following a flash flood in Trishuli, Nuwakot district, Nepal. (Source: Reuters)
Nepal’s former Forest and Environment Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain has claimed that China did not issue a timely warning to Nepal before devastating flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border, leaving hundreds dead and thousands missing.
The floods tore through parts of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday after a wall of ice, rock and mud swept through the border region at around 8:40 am. According to Chaulagain, Nepal received no advance warning from the Chinese side before the disaster unfolded.
‘We Missed That Opportunity’: Ex-Minister On Warning Protocol
Chaulagain pointed out that Nepal and China had already established an agreed protocol following a smaller glacier-related incident in 2025.
However, he said the mechanism was not activated ahead of Wednesday’s disaster.
“We missed that opportunity,” Chaulagain said, stressing that the existing arrangement could have played an important role in providing advance information.
Chaulagain Disputes China’s Claim On Floods’ Origin
The former minister also rejected Beijing’s assertion that the collapse began on Nepali territory.
According to Chaulagain, the event originated in Tibet, although he acknowledged that the exact sequence of events remains unclear.
“Things are not so clear,” he said, while calling for greater transparency over what triggered the disaster.
Disaster Exposes Gaps In Nepal’s Early-Warning System
Chaulagain said the floods also highlighted deeper weaknesses in Nepal’s disaster preparedness and planning.
He noted that Nepal’s early-warning systems and environmental impact assessments for hydropower projects have largely focused on threats posed by glacial lakes.
However, Wednesday’s disaster involved ice-rock falls and the collapse of a glacier-fed river system, a type of event that he said had “never been envisioned”.
According to Chaulagain, the incident demonstrates the need to broaden disaster-risk assessments beyond conventional glacial lake-related threats.
Ex-Minister Calls For Nepal-China-India Warning System
Chaulagain also highlighted the absence of a functioning early-warning mechanism connecting Nepal, China and India.
He described the situation as a “call for action”, arguing that stronger regional coordination and information-sharing could help countries prepare for disasters that cross borders.
He further criticised the withholding of relevant data, saying it is “against humanity”.
Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises To 659
Meanwhile, the death toll from the flash floods in Nepal rose to 659 on Saturday, as rescue and relief operations continued for the fourth consecutive day.
Nearly 2,500 people have been evacuated so far, while more than 2,400 people remain missing.
More than 11,000 security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations, including over 5,000 personnel from the Nepal Army.
Rescue teams continued their efforts across affected areas as authorities worked to locate those still missing and provide assistance to displaced survivors.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The deadly floods on the Nepal-Tibet border were caused by a wall of ice, rock, and mud that swept through the region. Preliminary analysis of satellite images indicated that an ice avalanche, triggered by an unstable mountain rock mass, was the cause. Some scientists suggest that a glacier breaking off due to increased temperatures in the Himalayas could have caused the event. An earthquake in the Tibetan region may have also triggered an avalanche that led to the flood.
Ask News18August 29, 2026, 4:03 PM IST
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