Chinese rescue operations on Tibetan side of the border have been put on hold due to growing concerns that a newly formed debris lake could trigger severe secondary flooding in the region.
The disaster struck on Wednesday when a devastating landslide swept away Gyriong port, the primary overland border crossing connecting Nepal and Tibet, reports BBC.
Since then, authorities have been closely tracking rising water levels upstream from the destroyed port.
Following several hours of torrential rainfall, officials are deeply concerned that the lake created by the landslide debris might breach its natural barriers, unleashing further deluge in the days ahead.
In response to the imminent hazard, Chinese state media reports that rescue teams in the vicinity have been ordered to temporarily stand down.
The suspension comes at a critical time, with more than 550 people officially listed as missing on the Tibetan side of the border.
Among those unaccounted for are 260 foreign nationals, a group that includes pilgrims travelling to the sacred site of Mount Kailash.
