The catastrophic disaster in Nepal has claimed hundreds of lives, with the collapse of a glacial lake in the Himalayas initially believed to be the primary cause. However, a group of Nepali journalists has made a contrasting allegation, claiming that construction activities undertaken by China along the Tibet border triggered the sudden floods in Rasuwa. A post on the social media platform X by a handle called “Nepal Correspondence,” describing the disaster as a “deliberate environmental catastrophe,” has sparked considerable controversy.
The Nepal Correspondents’ collective on X, which describes itself as an investigative journalism platform dedicated to exploring the facts and analysis behind information, alleged that construction work being carried out by China near the Tibet border caused the severe flash floods that struck Rasuwa on August 26, 2026, calling it a “deliberate environmental disaster.” According to their claims, the Xiaokang settlements and the town of Gyirong—built by cutting into mountains and altering the natural course of the Trishuli river—have been causing annual snow avalanches and destructive floods in Nepal. However, these allegations have not yet been officially verified.
The group alleged that the flash floods were the result of a “deliberate environmental disaster” caused by Chinese construction activities in the neighbouring border region. The thread posted by the handle made serious accusations, stating that China’s construction of Xiaokang settlements at high-altitude glacial regions is causing environmental damage, leading to annual avalanches along the China-Nepal border that result in flash floods.
According to the thread, today’s flood originated near the town of Gyirong in what it referred to as “occupied Tibet.” The town, it claimed, was built by cutting into the mountains and constructed directly along the natural flow path of the Trishuli river. The post alleged that damage to the fragile ecosystem atop the glacial peaks is now causing annual avalanches and triggering flash floods in Nepal, resulting in severe loss of life and property. It further alleged that the Gyirong port, built near the Rasuwa border at the confluence of rivers, was deliberately positioned by China to increase the speed of river flow towards Nepali territory, calling it not merely a deliberate environmental disaster but also a deeply “cruel act.”
The thread concluded by stating that Nepal’s Prime Minister must raise the issue with China, which it accused of causing irreversible damage to the Himalayas and destroying the ecosystem across the border region. However, the website Down To Earth was unable to independently verify the allegations made by the handle.
The massive flash floods struck Rasuwa district on the morning of August 26, with water, silt and large boulders rushing rapidly through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, raising concerns about the impact on downstream areas. According to local reports, water levels in the Bhote Koshi river basin began rising rapidly around 9:00 am local time on August 26. The floodwaters, breaching the riverbanks, flowed into the Trishuli river through the Bhote Koshi. Local residents have expressed concern that the flood’s impact could extend to Nuwakot and Dhading districts as well.