Why Nepal's glacial lakes demand Indian action

Nepal is in a race against time to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes - Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho and Hongu-2 - due to the alarming urgency of the situation. The trigger for this unprecedented plan was a devastating flood that occurred along the China-Nepal border, claiming over 1,450 lives and leaving thousands missing. In response, the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, is racing to prevent future calamities.

However, New Delhi cannot afford to dismiss this as merely a Nepali crisis. India stands to benefit greatly from providing Nepal with immediate technical support, sharing data, and setting up early warning systems. This proactive approach serves as vital flood defense for India's northern plains.

The catastrophic August flood began its journey from the Lhende Khola, coursing through the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers before crossing into India as the Gandak river and merging with the Ganga. The primary danger isn't typically a sudden wall of water, but rather an acute surge in volume, delivered to rivers that are already swollen by monsoons and bordered by fragile embankments.

The 2008 Koshi embankment breach at Kusaha serves as a stark reminder of this threat. The breach permanently altered the river's course, displacing over 2.3 million people in northern Bihar. With this in mind, Nepal's ambitious project to drain the four glacial lakes is a critical step towards safeguarding future lives and livelihoods.