Nepal plans to drain four glacial lakes after deadly floods

Nepal plans to commence a costly project this year to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes to mitigate flood risks, following a devastating recent disaster that claimed over 1,400 lives. The government research center overseeing the initiative aims to lower the risk of lake breaches and downstream flooding. Rescuers are still searching for more than 5,000 people missing in the China border region after last month's glacier collapse unleashed landslides and a flash flood.

Workers face health risks due to high-altitude and potential sudden flooding. Design work and detailed studies targeting the lakes of Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu II will begin soon, with the draining process potentially taking up to six years. The US$50-million project, funded by international bodies, will install sensors, a flood forecasting system, and resilience-building efforts.

Nepal has previously lowered the levels of Tsho Rolpa and Imja lakes by 3 meters in past efforts. Prime Minister Balendra Shah emphasized the urgency at the UN, blaming climate change for Nepal's vulnerability despite low emissions. Nepal has reported 26 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood events in the past four decades, losing over 300 lives annually due to extreme climate events.