In a chilling turn of events, a sudden flood in the Lende River at the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa district has left at least 18 people missing, including Nepal Police officers, truck drivers, Nepali workers, and six Chinese nationals. With no recorded rainfall in the region and Nepal’s meteorological agencies confirming a dry spell, suspicion has grown that China may have irresponsibly released water without prior notice—what some officials and observers have termed a “water bomb” targeting Nepal.

The flood destroyed the vital Miteri Bridge linking the two countries and swept away multiple vehicles, including cargo trucks stationed near the Rasuwa customs office. Roads from Syabrubesi to Rasuwagadhi have been cut off, leaving critical trade infrastructure crippled. The Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project also suffered partial damage, alongside electric vehicle charging stations and private properties. The damage has extended downstream into Nuwakot district as well.

Despite the scale of the destruction, no heavy rainfall was reported by Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. According to their public statement, satellite-based systems such as the World Meteorological Organization’s Global Hydro-Estimator Precipitation Estimates show no significant precipitation in the Bhotekoshi watershed area in the last 24 hours. This sharpens the suspicion that the floodwaters were not the result of natural rain but a sudden surge from upstream, possibly from a glacial lake outburst or, more controversially, a deliberate or negligent release of water from Chinese territory.

The Flood Forecasting Division has initiated an Emergency Observation Request to the Sentinel Asia satellite platform to determine the exact cause. However, officials are increasingly concerned about the lack of communication and coordination from the Chinese side in such critical transboundary events. Nepal, being a lower riparian country, has long demanded transparency and advance notification regarding upstream water activities from China, but these requests have largely gone unanswered.

This isn’t the first time such incidents have raised eyebrows. In the past, flash floods originating from the Tibetan plateau have triggered disasters in Himalayan valleys, yet bilateral mechanisms for hydrological information sharing remain weak or ineffective. Many experts argue that the asymmetry of power between China and its South Asian neighbors allows Beijing to bypass accountability in managing its vast upstream river systems. The Rasuwa flood, they say, is a stark reminder that Nepal’s sovereignty is increasingly vulnerable to environmental mismanagement across its northern border.

Human stories emerging from the flood are heart-wrenching. Locals recall hearing a sudden roar of water early in the morning, with no prior warning. A resident of Timure village said, “We have seen rain-induced floods before, but this was different. It felt like someone unleashed the river upon us.” Emergency rescue operations by the Nepal Army and private helicopter services managed to airlift dozens, but uncertainty continues to loom over the missing.

The absence of diplomatic engagement from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu following the disaster has added to public frustration. Opposition politicians have called on the government to formally demand an explanation from Beijing. Civil society voices are becoming louder, urging Nepal to reexamine its silence and passive stance when it comes to environmental accountability from China.

As satellite data and forensic hydrological studies begin to emerge in the coming days, the central question remains—was this catastrophe avoidable? And if so, who should be held responsible? The answers may not only determine the future of Nepal-China water diplomacy but could also redefine the terms of engagement for all lower riparian countries in South Asia facing similar risks from a powerful upstream neighbor.

Sharp Power