Koshi Province Faces High Risk of Glacial Lake Outbursts, Experts Warn
Summary
Experts warn that dozens of glacial lakes in Koshi Province are at high risk of bursting, threatening thousands of households, hydropower projects, bridges and roads. Officials say the province is preparing rescue and warning systems, but former leaders have questioned whether the response is sufficient.
Key Points
- About 42 glacial lakes in Koshi Province are considered at high risk of bursting, with major danger in river basins such as Arun, Dudh Koshi, Tamor and Sun Koshi.
- Recent floods and landslides in Bhote Koshi, Ilam and Jhapa have already caused heavy loss of life, displacement and damage worth billions of rupees.
- The provincial government has drafted a cluster-based response plan involving the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, along with drones, satellites and SMS alerts.
- Experts and lawmakers warn that weak transboundary coordination with Tibet and limited early-warning infrastructure could worsen future disasters.
