A devastating flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River has claimed at least nine lives and left over 30 people missing, including 19 in Nepal and 11 in China’s Tibet region. The disaster, which occurred on July 8, 2025, was caused by the sudden drainage of a supraglacial lake in Tibet, north of Nepal’s Langtang Himal range. This glacial lake outburst swept away the Friendship Bridge, a vital link between Nepal and China, disrupting cross-border connectivity.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) confirmed the flood’s origin as a supraglacial lake, formed from meltwater ponds on glacier surfaces that can expand and merge, becoming unstable. Experts note that such lakes, often held back by ice or debris, are increasingly prone to bursting due to rising temperatures linked to climate change. This event follows a pattern of similar disasters in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, spanning Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, where glacial melt is accelerating.
The flood’s impact was severe in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, where six Chinese workers at the Beijing-aided Inland Container Depot were among the missing. Rescue operations have been intense, with the Nepalese army airlifting over 150 people, including 127 foreign nationals, to safety in Kathmandu. Communication and electricity services remain disrupted, though efforts are underway to restore connectivity via the Chinese border. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported a water level surge to 3.5 meters despite no recent heavy rainfall, supporting the glacial outburst theory.
This disaster adds to Nepal’s challenges during the June-September monsoon season, which often brings floods and landslides. Since May 29, 2025, at least 38 people have been killed or reported missing across the country due to monsoon-related incidents. Experts emphasize the need for deeper research into the triggers of these events, as climate change intensifies extreme weather patterns, threatening lives and infrastructure in the region.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 11th, 2025
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