The devastation caused by the flood that occurred on Tuesday in the Lhende River in Tibet after it merged with the Bhotekoshi River has caused a great loss of human wealth. But the cause of the flood has not been ascertained. The Department of Water and Meteorology has said that it was not possible to analyze with the help of satellites due to the presence of clouds in the high Himalayan region of China and Nepal border.

Even though there was no heavy rain, the department tried to find the cause of the flood in the Lhende river on the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa. During the 24-hour period from Monday to Tuesday, the Kanjing Meteorological Center in Rasuwa and the Dhunche Meteorological Center in Rasuwa, which are close to the Nepal-China border, have measured only sporadic rainfall.

"Heavy rains did not cause the flood, but we are studying the cause," says Vinod Parajuli, a flood expert of the department.

The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ISIMOD) also said that satellite analysis was hampered by clouds. Isimode also reported that there was no rain due to flash floods in the Lhende River.

It will take time to identify the specific cause of the flood, but from preliminary investigations it is clear that the flood was not caused by excessive rainfall. We are trying to study from satellites, but it is not possible due to cloud cover,' says a statement issued by ISIMOD, "It is necessary to investigate the real cause of the flood by a multi-sectoral team including geologists, glaciologists, and climatologists." "But there is no concrete evidence of this," he says, "According to the 2021 study of Isimod, a glacier in the area above the Trishuli River in Tibet was in the high risk category. From 1990 to 2020, the size of the glacier has increased in the Trishuli river catchment area. Satellite images taken before the flood also show an increase in the number of glaciers, but the current cloud cover has hindered the satellite analysis.' 

He says it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand how risks arise in mountainous areas. "Heavy rain is not always the only cause of flooding, sometimes it is not the only cause," he says, "relief, reconstruction and preparedness plans should be made with this in mind."

ISIMOD Director General Pema Gamtso says that due to global warming, mountainous areas are the most at risk of natural disasters. "It is not yet clear what caused the Rasuwa floods, but we strongly believe that global warming has increased the intensity and complexity of hazardous events in the Himalayan region," he says.

Even on Wednesday, after the flood, all the security agencies are engaged in searching for the missing and rescuing the stranded. 136 people were rescued from 34 air flights and sent to Kathmandu. 127 of them are foreign nationals. "The entire security system is in the field, we are continuing the rescue work, we have returned from the on-site study on Wednesday," says Arjan Paudel, chief district officer of Rasuwa, "The rescue of those trapped in the flood is continuing, we have sent those rescued to Kathmandu, most of whom are foreign nationals." Miteri bridge connecting Nepal-China has been swept away in the flood and the dry port has also suffered great damage. 4 hydropower projects including Rasuwagadhi have been damaged. 24 container cars, 6 big trucks and about 35 EVs with goods in the port were washed away. 

According to Paudel, the biggest damage to the infrastructure caused by the flood is the washing away of Miteri bridge. "There has been a lot of damage in the customs yard, it seems that 15 to 20 vehicles are buried there," he says, "Some of the missing vehicles may have drifted away from the yard, others are suspected to have been buried there." Roads have been damaged in various places from Syafubesi to Rasuwagadhi due to flood. According to the road engineer, around 1100 meters of road has been damaged in 10 places. "The area where more than 2,000 people live is cut off. According to information, there is only three to four days worth of food. It is necessary to deliver food there immediately," says Prazia Paudel. They are looking for the uncontacted. According to DSP Shailendra Thapa, Co-Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force (APF), teams have also been sent from Nuwakot and Dhading to search for the missing persons. 

Eight of the nine bodies found have been brought to Kathmandu, police said. The spokesperson of Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General Vinod Ghimire, informed that the identity of none other than one person could not be found. The body of Asai Lal Bahadur Shrestha, who went missing from Rasuwa due to flood, was found on the bank of Trishuli river at 15 Kilo of Chitwan. The family found the body and cremated it on Wednesday.

According to the police, only five bodies are identifiable. Only human parts of four have been found. The police said that his DNA test is required.

5 people from Bardiya are missing, families are in mourning

5 people from Bardiya are missing due to the flood that occurred in Rasuwagadhi on Tuesday morning. Their family members have been fainting ever since they got the news. Anita Chaudhary of Barbardia Municipality-10 has not eaten anything since Tuesday due to the news that her husband disappeared after the Zipan flood. Anita, who is four months pregnant, is fainting at the thought of her husband. 

Zipon's mother Hiramoti said that her son went to work in Rasuwa last March. "The last time my son called my daughter-in-law was on Monday at 10 o'clock at night," she said.

Bhim Bahadur Chowdhury's son Santosh, nephew Buddhiram and daughter-in-law Zipan of Barbardia municipality-10 have gone missing after the flood. Relatives have gathered all over the house to console the missing, saying that they will return home. There is no one in Buddhiram's house except his wife and daughter.

'After my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law got married again,' she said, 'There is no one at home except my daughter and me, they say that my husband has disappeared, I don't know what to do now.' Bhim Bahadur's son Santosh has also disappeared in the flood. Bhim Bahadur's father cries and says, "Let the government rescue my son soon". 

Similarly, Chandralal Tharu's son Suresh of Barbardia-9 went to Rasuwa after planting paddy on June 21. He is also missing after the flood. After the disappearance of the only son, the family is torn apart. His wife Urmila has not stopped crying since hearing the news of her husband's disappearance. 

Lakshminarayan Tharu of Bharaiyatal Gapa-6 is also among the missing. Mayor of Barbardia Chabilal Choudhary said that they are coordinating with the Rasuwa administration to search for the missing persons. Chief District Officer Surendra Paudel said that after discovering the house of 5 missing families of Bardia on Tuesday, he coordinated with the Rasuwa administration and requested for rescue.

(Kamal Panthi and Ramprasad Chauhan from Bardia)

1 missing, 45 houses flooded

Parasi - A child has gone missing after being swept away by the flood in West Nawalparasi. Incessant rain has flooded 45 houses in Bardghat. 13-year-old Krishna Mallah of Susta-4 went missing after being swept away by a veld that came to Narayani. The police said that he went missing while trying to catch firewood that had been swept away by the flood.

Local Devidatta Poudel said that the settlement north of Bardghat Municipality-10 London Bridge highway was flooded due to incessant rain. Due to the rain, the road near Khursani river at Bardghat-4 has washed away.