Supraglacial lake outburst caused Rasuwagdhi floods: Experts

KATHMANDU: A preliminary investigation by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DoHM) shows that the flood in Lhendekhola River, located on the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa early Tuesday morning, was caused by a glacial lake outburst.

Officials of the DoHM say a study of images from the Sentinel satellite indicates that the flood was triggered by the bursting of a supraglacial lake in China.

Binod Parajuli, a flood expert at the DoHM, said initial analysis points to the outburst of such a lake as the cause of the flood. “The upper catchment of Lhendekhola lies about 36 km upstream from Rasuwagadhi on the Nepal-China border at an elevation of around 5,150 meters above sea level,” Parajuli explained. “There was a supraglacial lake in the center of a glacier in the catchment area, covering an area of about 0.75 square kilometers. After the flood, the lake’s area has shrunk to roughly 0.60 square kilometers, showing a significant loss of water.”

He added that the clear reduction in the lake’s size strongly suggests a glacial lake outburst. “Ground-level reports from China and additional satellite images in the coming days could help confirm the findings,” he said, adding that the DoHM will continue monitoring and studying the situation.