Nepal plans to drain four glacial lakes after deadly floods

KATHMANDU: Nepal is set to begin a major project this year to drain water from four high-altitude glacial lakes in order to mitigate flood risks, following a devastating disaster that claimed over 1,400 lives and displaced thousands, reports said. The perilous glacial lakes, located in the border region with China, pose a significant threat of breaching their natural dams, leading to downstream floods.

Subash Tuladhar, an expert at a government research center overseeing the project, stated that canals will be constructed to regulate water drainage into nearby rivers. However, workers will face health hazards due to the strenuous high-altitude work and the risk of sudden flooding. Design work for the central and eastern lakes of Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu II will commence in the fiscal year running until mid-July 2027.

The total cost of the US$50-million project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, UNDP, and the Nepalese government, will be covered by these entities. The draining process, which involves installing sensors and developing a flood forecasting and warning system, could take up to six years to complete. Similar initiatives in Nepal have successfully lowered the water levels of glacial lakes by 3 meters, significantly reducing their potential for outburst floods.

Nepal's disaster has highlighted the urgent need to address climate change impacts, as the country experiences more than 300 lives lost and millions in property damage annually due to extreme climate events.