Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CA has concluded that an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-mountain glacier in Nepal caused the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.
“A glacier on the south slope of Mount Langtang Lirung in Nepal fractured at an altitude of about 5,200 meters, triggering an ice-rock avalanche,” Xinhua wrote on Sunday, citing findings of the Cryosphere Emergency Disaster Response Team from the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“The avalanche plunged rapidly to an altitude of around 4,000 meters, scouring the mountainside and developing into a massive debris flow, which surged about 22 kilometers before reaching Gyirong Port at an altitude of around 1,800 meters.”
Gyirong Port lies across the Rasuwagadhi border of Nepal.
Chinese Academy of Sciences is China’s national academy for natural sciences and the highest consultancy for science and technology of the People’s Republic of China.
The flood claimed 16 lives on the Chinese side of the border, while 546 others are missing. It damaged 27 buildings and related facilities in the area.
According to the team, the disaster flattened an area of about 0.7 square kilometers, destroying 27 buildings and related facilities in the Gyirong port area.
The findings are based on the analysis of remote-sensing monitoring data and field-transmitted data, as well as on-site surveys and investigations, Xinhua wrote.
The flood has left a trail of devastation along the banks of the Bhotekoshi River, which flows through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West districts. The river is known downstream as the Trishuli.
According to Nepal Police, 788 bodies have been recovered in Nepal as of Sunday evening.
