Nepal is grappling with heightened climate disaster risks as recent landslides and avalanches have blocked rivers, following severe flooding in Rasuwa district.
KATHMANDU – Nepal is facing renewed concerns over climate-related disasters as a series of landslides and avalanches have blocked rivers and streams across the country in the past two weeks. These incidents follow devastating floods in the Rasuwa district, which have underscored the vulnerabilities of Nepal’s mountainous regions.
The fragile terrain, combined with changing climatic conditions, has increased the threat of landslides, avalanches, and flooding in these areas. On August 26, an avalanche blocked the Lhendi Khola, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border. The flooding that ensued resulted in significant loss of life and property, with 1,369 people reported dead and 5,132 still unaccounted for as of September 9, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
Since the initial disaster, three separate incidents of blocked rivers or streams have been reported in Nepal. Fortunately, none of these incidents have resulted in large-scale flooding, as water has gradually cleared the landslide debris.
The most recent incident occurred in Annapurna Rural Municipality, a remote mountainous area of Kaski district in western Nepal. On September 8, a landslide temporarily blocked the Kimrung Khola, a tributary of the Modi Khola River, raising concerns about a potential flash flood downstream.
Authorities promptly alerted residents of Nayapul, Birethanti, and surrounding settlements downstream, urging them to move to safer locations and take necessary precautions. By September 9, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that water flow in the Kimrung Khola had returned to normal, alleviating the immediate risk of flooding.
“However, as a normal level of risk remains, people are advised to remain alert and exercise caution along the Modi Khola up to the confluence with the Kali Gandaki River,” the authority stated.
Kumang Singh Gurung, chief district officer at the District Administration Office in Kaski, noted that the alert was issued after shepherds reported the stream had been blocked near Annapurna South. “The landslide blocked the upper section of the Kimrung Khola,” he confirmed.
On September 4, the Chameliya River, a tributary of the Mahakali River that forms part of the Nepal-India boundary, was partially blocked at Bhattar in Apihimal Rural Municipality of Darchula district due to continuous landslides. The landslides occurred throughout the morning, prompting the District Administration Office in Darchula to alert residents living along the banks of the Chameliya, locally known as the Chaulani River.
The administration warned that the river could become completely blocked, posing a serious risk to downstream settlements. Residents in those areas were urged to take precautionary measures.
Fortunately, the natural blockage gradually receded, reducing the risk of a large-scale disaster similar to the Bhotekoshi flooding in Rasuwa in late August. On August 31, a landslide at Chaurikharka in the Chhekampar area of Chumnubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha district temporarily blocked the Syar Khola, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River.
Despite initial reports suggesting that the Budhi Gandaki River itself had been blocked, officials at the District Administration Office in Gorkha dismissed these claims as false. They confirmed that the Syar Khola had been partially blocked but assured that the incident did not result in flooding, as water gradually cleared the debris.
The series of river blockages has highlighted the growing disaster risks facing Nepal’s mountainous regions. Climate change has emerged as a significant factor contributing to the increasing frequency of landslides and avalanches, with changing climatic conditions adversely affecting the country’s fragile geology and environment.
Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, joint secretary and chief of the Climate Change Management Division at Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment, emphasized the need for stronger disaster preparedness and greater coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments as climate-related risks escalate.
He noted that Nepal’s mountainous terrain, expanding settlements, and growing infrastructure development make it increasingly important for authorities to identify vulnerable areas and implement preventive measures before disasters occur.
“Local governments have to be at the frontline of protecting their citizens,” Dhakal stated, stressing the importance of local authorities in identifying risk-prone areas, alerting residents, and relocating settlements when necessary.
He also called for enhanced coordination among government agencies, asserting that climate-related disaster risks cannot be effectively addressed by a single ministry or level of government. The urgency of these measures is underscored by the recent incidents, which serve as a stark reminder of the challenges Nepal faces in the face of climate change.
According to IANS, the situation remains precarious, and continued vigilance is essential to mitigate the risks posed by climate-related disasters in Nepal.