Glacial and Glacier Lake Outburst Floods: Risks and Prevention Strategies

Discussions have centered on how to protect against disasters caused by glacial and glacier lake outburst floods. In the past Bhadra month, a glacier in Tibet and Nepal suddenly burst, triggering a landslide and subsequent devastating floods. Following the floods originating from Tibet that impacted the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, warnings have been issued about the ongoing risk of glacial and glacier lake outburst floods in the Himalayan regions. Continuous monitoring has been emphasized as essential to mitigating these risks.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, has been studying glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, particularly those within Nepal. ICIMOD is conducting research on how to prevent such disasters and minimize potential damages. In this context, Sanjay Dhakal from BBC Hatmallo interviewed Neera Shrestha Pradhan, Head of Water and Disaster Risk Reduction Programs at ICIMOD, to discuss these concerns and strategies.