Kathmandu, Aug. 26 -- An initial assessment suggests that an ice avalanche blocked the Lhende river, triggering the sudden flood in the Bhotekoshi river, according to Rijan Bhakta Kayastha, a professor at Kathmandu University and climate researcher.

Speaking to Kantipur, Kayastha said the assessment was based on preliminary findings and discussions with scientists in Nepal and China. He said an ice avalanche appears to have fallen into and blocked the Lhende river, causing water to build up before bursting downstream.

"There is information that an ice avalanche from the Nepal side blocked the Lhende river," Kayastha said. "An earthquake also occurred on the Tibetan side around the same time."

According to the US Geological Survey, a ma...