Kathmandu, 28 August

Fears of a second wave of flash floods loomed large in Nepal after authorities issued a fresh warning on Friday following an increase in the water level of a lake formed by avalanches on the country's border with Tibet, as the death toll from the flood-related devastation crossed 469.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the rise in the water level at the site where a devastating flash flood occurred earlier this week raised the risk of another flood in the area.

The warning comes after a massive flash flood swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, killing hundreds and causing widespread damage to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

The death toll from flash floods rose to 469 on Friday as search-and-rescue operations continued for a third day, with nearly 1,000 people still missing in the Himalayan nation.

"The water level mixed with mud has increased at the same place where the flash flood occurred on Wednesday, and there is a risk of more flooding in the area," the NDRMMA said in a fresh notice.

The NDRRMA urged people involved in search and rescue operations, as well as those staying in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli areas for various reasons, to remain highly alert and immediately move to safer places if they face any risk.

Nepal Police also issued an alert after receiving information that a water dam on the Tibetan side had burst again.

"Information has been received that the water dam on the Tibetan side has burst again," Nepal Police said in a post on X.

In a statement, Nepal Police said more bodies were recovered from eight districts. Three people were killed in neighbouring Tibet.

According to the police, 178 dead bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, 110 from Nawalparasi East, 44 from Gorkha, 37 from Nuwakot and 33 from Dhading district.

Similarly, 28 bodies have been recovered from Tanahu, 27 from Nawalparasi West and 12 from Rasuwa.

At least 977 people, including 86 security personnel, 517 foreign tourists and 127 Nepali travellers, are missing since Wednesday morning when the flash floods hit Rasuwa and adjoining districts of Nepal.

So far, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from various affected regions. Among them, 84 are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu, where families are desperately searching for their loved ones.

Search and rescue operations continued for the third day of the tragic incident with the mobilisation of 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel, the police statement said.

Helicopters have been used to reach isolated areas and evacuate survivors, while ground teams continue searching riverbanks and downstream settlements, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, the Nepal government has decided to halt all examinations from August 29 given the situation that developed following the devastating natural disaster.

Meanwhile, China sounded a Level-IV alert late on Thursday, saying a large barrier lake had formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal. China’s emergency response system for natural disasters has four levels, with Level-I being the highest and Level IV the lowest.

On Thursday, Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had warned of a fresh flood risk downstream of the Bhotekoshi River following the formation of a new barrier lake near the Nepal-China border.

Chinese authorities had informed Nepal that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially entering it over three days, raising concerns about a possible breach.

The lake had formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which originate in Tibet and flow into Nepal as part of the Bhotekoshi river system.