'What happens in the Himalayas does not stay in the Himalayas'
Summary
A climate and conservation expert says the Bhote Koshi disaster in Rasuwa was likely a glacier-rock collapse, not just a flood, warning that warming, permafrost loss and black carbon are making Himalayan mountains increasingly unstable. He says the event shows the need for stronger monitoring, regional data-sharing and disaster preparedness across Nepal, China and the wider Hindu Kush Himalaya.
Key Points
- Arup Rajouria says the August 26 Bhote Koshi disaster was a cascading mountain failure that may have involved an ice–rock avalanche in the upper Lhende Khola catchment.
- He warns that warming, permafrost degradation and black carbon are making Himalayan slopes more unstable and harder to predict than glacial lake outburst floods.
- The disaster affected roads, bridges, hydropower projects and border infrastructure, showing that mountain hazards can disrupt large parts of a valley within minutes.
- Rajouria calls for joint Nepal–China scientific assessment, real-time data sharing and broader regional cooperation on mountain risk.
