Top News

Nepal and China have once again issued an alert regarding possible floods. Due to the formation of two lakes due to debris on both sides of the Nepal-China border, the possibility of their sudden collapse has increased. This warning has come at a time when both the countries are trying to recover from the severe floods this week and searching for missing people.

How did such a severe flood occur?

Officials of both Nepal and China have cited the collapse of the glacier as the main reason behind this disaster. After the breaking of the glacier, a huge amount of rock, snow, mud and debris reached the mountain rivers, due to which the water level suddenly increased and the flood took a severe form. Now the blockage created in the river path due to this debris and the water accumulated behind it has created a new concern. Officials fear that if this barrier breaks, a strong flow of water may suddenly reach the low-lying areas.

What is the danger now?

According to the Disaster Management Authority of Nepal, the flow of the river has been disrupted due to debris in the flood affected area. Due to this, the water in the lake formed is continuously increasing and there is a danger of it breaking. Apart from the people living in the lower areas of the river, the authority has also advised the travelers and the workers involved in relief-rescue operations to stay away from the risk areas.

“Residents living on the lower banks of the river, travelers, rescue workers engaged in rescue operations and all concerned are requested to take special precautions and stay in safe places away from river banks and risky areas,” officials said.

What was the warning given about?

Qiangong Zhang, chief climate expert on climate and environmental risks at the Kathmandu-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, has expressed serious concern about the river barrier built around the Nepal-China border. According to Zhang, if the barrier built in the upper part of the river suddenly breaks, there could be a danger of another flood. He said, “There is still a blockage in the upper part of the river on the Nepal-China border, due to which officials have expressed fear of another flood.”

China has also issued a warning regarding a lake surrounded by a dam in its territory. According to officials, about 30 lakh cubic meters of water can reach this lake in the next three days. This amount of water is said to be equivalent to approximately 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Officials fear that the dam may break due to increasing water pressure. It is estimated that the maximum flow of water can be seen around 1st September.

What was seen in the aerial footage?

Aerial footage released by China’s state broadcaster CGTN shows a large amount of brown water accumulated in a basin. No clear outlet for water was visible in the footage. The water has submerged the surrounding bushes and trees. It appears that the accumulated water is continuously putting pressure on the barrier made of debris and stones. Due to this, the possibility of dam or natural barrier breaking has further increased.

Will there be floods again?

Citing the Ministry of Water Resources, China’s government media said that there is a possibility of more rain in the coming week. If the rains continue, the water level in the lake may rise further, making the existing threat more serious. “The amount of water is constantly increasing, and with it the danger is also increasing,” Zhu Jinfeng, a researcher at the hydrology department of the Ministry of Water Resources, told state broadcaster CCTV.