Nepal’s flood triggered by rock and ice avalanche, says report

KATHMANDU: Nepal's disaster authority reported on Wednesday that a recent flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki River was triggered by an avalanche of rock and ice, reminiscent of the devastating flood that struck Rasuwa district in August. The latest disaster unfolded just two months after the earlier catastrophe, raising concerns about the risks posed by Nepal's unstable mountain terrain.

The flood on Sunday claimed five lives and destroyed 200 houses and five bridges in the central Gorkha district. Initially, the flood was attributed to a landslide, but the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority later concluded that an avalanche in a region with weak rock and at an altitude of approximately 6,000 meters was the actual cause.

This revelation highlights the urgent need for improved monitoring and early-warning systems in Nepal's mountainous regions, as permafrost thawing can lead to sudden collapses and torrents of water. Disaster authority head Dharam Raj Uprety emphasized the importance of enhancing monitoring and early warning systems, as the frequency of such disasters underscores their critical nature.

Authorities had received some warning of the flood, enabling them to alert communities and minimize casualties. A series of smaller landslides also occurred, obstructing the river before the debris dislodged, causing the Budhi Gandaki to surge downstream. The flood's peak surge reached an estimated height of 20 to 25 meters, engulfing a hydropower camp in Salleri.

Climate change has been identified as a significant factor in the August 26 floods, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah stating that the disaster serves as a warning to the world about the escalating dangers of climate change.