Nepal PM demands climate action after deadly Himalayan floods

Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah condemned the deadly Himalayan flood that occurred last week, stating it was not an ordinary event but a result of climate change. The flood, triggered by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border, resulted in over 900 deaths and nearly 4,500 people reported missing, with reconstruction costs potentially reaching billions of dollars.

The Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa was the site of the disaster, one of the region's major disasters. While the exact cause of the collapse is unclear, climate change exacerbates the melting of glaciers worldwide, increasing the risk of such disasters. Shah emphasized that this incident highlights the escalating risks faced in the Himalayan region due to climate change, urging vigilance.

Nepal, a rural nation with 30 million inhabitants, has contributed minimally to global warming emissions but is bearing the brunt of its consequences. Shah called for strong advocacy against climate change disasters on the international stage, as the melting of glaciers in the Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges provides water for millions of people across the mountainous regions and river valleys below.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the rapid melting of glaciers in Himalayan regions, and UN climate chief Simon Stiell called it a devastating reminder of the fragility of mountain environments. Nepal's economy is already strained, with limited resources to respond to such disasters.