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🇳🇵 Nepal /Disasters & Emergencies

Rising flood and landslide risks leave Karnali settlements exposed

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Heavy rains and hail triggered floods in Humla, Nepal, destroying a school, homes, livestock sheds, and farmland.
  • Settlements in the Karnali region are increasingly vulnerable to floods and landslides, with past incidents causing significant damage and displacement.
  • Local officials express concern over the rising risks from glacial lake outbursts and erosion, urging federal government attention to mitigation efforts.

The recent floods in Humla, Nepal, underscore a growing and alarming trend: settlements in previously considered safe Himalayan districts are now facing severe risks from floods and landslides. While many associate such disasters with the Tarai region, the Karnali settlements are increasingly exposed, as evidenced by the destruction of Danfe Basic School and numerous homes and farmlands.

All the houses in the village are at risk. The flood has devastated the entire village before the rains have even settled in. We do not know what will happen once the monsoon starts.

· Harkadhan TamangWard chair describing the immediate danger to his village after the flood.

Local leaders like ward chair Harkadhan Tamang and rural municipality chair Mohan Bikram Singh are sounding the alarm. They highlight the devastation already wrought by early rains and express deep anxiety about the impending monsoon. The destruction of infrastructure, including bridges and a micro-hydropower project, further isolates these communities and cripples their development.

We have repaired the damaged structures temporarily. It will be extremely difficult to save the market if hit by a flood again.

· Mohan Bikram SinghRural municipality chair on the temporary repairs and the ongoing vulnerability of the Shreenagar market.

The root causes, including glacial lake outbursts and severe erosion, are becoming more frequent. Ward chair Paljor Tamang points to the bursting of glacial lakes in the upper Thakra area as a direct cause of the flash floods. The lack of budget for risk mitigation and the federal government's perceived inaction are critical issues. This vulnerability is not new; last year saw similar devastating floods in Adanchuli and Namkha rural municipalities, displacing families and causing widespread damage.

The rural municipality does not have the budget to mitigate the risk of glacial lakes, and the federal government has not paid heed.

· Paljor TamangWard chair highlighting the financial and governmental challenges in addressing glacial lake risks.

This situation demands urgent attention. The narrative that floods only affect the plains is outdated. As Chief District Officer Tek Kumar Regmi notes, even areas without major rivers are now experiencing significant flood damage, primarily due to glacial lake instability. The federal government must prioritize these Himalayan districts, providing the necessary resources and expertise to prevent further tragedies and protect vulnerable settlements.

People used to think floods only occurred in the Tarai, but now settlements in Himalayan districts are being put at risk every year.

· Prem Bahadur LamaChair of Namkha Rural Municipality commenting on the changing nature of flood risks in Nepal.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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