Why Nepal's glacial lakes demand Indian action
Nepal’s ambitious six-year plan to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes — Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho and Hongu-2 — is born of sheer urgency. Following a catastrophic flood along the China-Nepal border that left more than 1,450 dead and thousands missing, Kathmandu is scrambling to mitigate future disasters. New Delhi cannot afford to view this as a purely domestic Nepali affair. For…
Nepal's government has launched a six-year initiative to empty four high-altitude glacial lakes in an effort to avert disaster. Triggered by the deadly 2018 flood along the China-Nepal frontier that claimed 1,450 lives and left thousands stranded, the government is taking proactive measures. New Delhi cannot afford to ignore this issue as providing Nepal with technical assistance, data exchange, and early warning systems could prove to be a preventive measure for India's northern plains.
The devastating August deluge originated from Lhende Khola and flowed into Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers. Eventually, it crossed into India as the Gandak river and merged with the Ganga. The biggest concern lies not in a sudden torrential wave of water, but a sudden surge of water volume entering rivers that are already flooded and surrounded by fragile embankments.
The 2008 Koshi embankment collapse at Kusaha irrevocably changed the river's path, leading to the displacement of more than 2.3 million people in Bihar's northern region.
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- Why Nepal's glacial lakes demand Indian action koreatimes.co.kr
