Bhotekoshi and Budhi Gandaki floods: Reminders for the immediate relocation of riverside settlements
Summary
The Budhi Gandaki flood and the earlier Bhotekoshi flood have renewed warnings about the growing danger of climate-driven river outbursts in Nepal. The article calls for immediate relocation of riverside settlements, stronger slope protection, and flood-resistant settlement planning.
Key Points
- The Budhi Gandaki flood destroyed 40 houses, the campsite of the 341 MW Budhi Gandaki hydropower project, and six bridges, while no deaths have been reported so far.
- The earlier Bhotekoshi flood caused massive loss of life and is linked in the article to landslide outburst flood risks in the Himalayas.
- Rising temperatures and climate change are increasing the likelihood of glacial lake and permafrost-related flood disasters in Nepal.
- The article urges the government to relocate vulnerable riverside settlements uphill and adopt safer, terrain-sensitive planning and slope protection measures.
