India, Aug. 31 -- The devastating flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal on August 26 were triggered by a massive fall of ice, rock and debris in the high Himalayas and not by an earthquake or glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), according to experts.

The floods, which originated near the Nepal-Tibet border and swept through northern and central Nepal, killed hundreds, left thousands missing and caused widespread damage to homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

A study commissioned by the Nepal Environment Society (NES) found that a huge mass of ice, rock and debris fell from an altitude of around 5,200 metres in the Langtang Lirung area of Rasuwa before entering the Lhende River.

The debris generated a powerful, s...