Nepal is set to initiate an ambitious project to drain four glacial lakes located in its mountainous regions, aiming to mitigate flood risks following a catastrophic glacier collapse that resulted in over 1,400 fatalities. Authorities have indicated that this operation, which involves controlled drainage through gated structures, will commence after comprehensive studies and may take as long as six years to finalize.
Subash Tuladhar, a specialist from a government research organization overseeing the initiative, emphasized that the primary objective is to diminish the likelihood of these lakes breaching their natural barriers, thereby reducing potential flooding downstream. He noted that the process will involve channeling water into adjacent rivers in a controlled manner. However, workers engaged in this high-altitude endeavor will face health hazards and the threat of sudden floods.
The draining project will focus on the central and eastern glacial lakes of Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu II, with design work and detailed studies commencing in the current fiscal year, which concludes in mid-July 2027. These lakes, situated at altitudes ranging from 4,050 to 5,483 meters, are recognized as highly hazardous according to a 2020 report by the United Nations Development Programme and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
Mr. Tuladhar stated that Nepal possesses the necessary skills and expertise to execute the $50 million project, which will be financed by the Green Climate Fund, the UNDP, and the Nepali government. Sanjeeb Baral, the executive director of the Centre for Hydrology and Water Resources Research, reiterated that the draining process would begin following detailed assessments and could extend over a six-year period. This undertaking will also include the installation of sensors, the development of a flood forecasting and warning system, and initiatives aimed at enhancing community resilience to flood risks.
Previous efforts in Nepal have successfully reduced the water levels of the Tsho Rolpa glacial lake by 3 meters in 2000 and the Imja lake near Mount Everest a decade ago. The urgency of the current project has been underscored by recent devastating floods, which Prime Minister Balendra Shah addressed at the United Nations, attributing the crisis to climate change despite Nepal’s minimal carbon emissions.
The Prime Minister highlighted the severe impacts of retreating glaciers, unstable mountain terrain, and unpredictable river behavior, indicating that Nepal is bearing a significant burden. Over the past 40 years, the country has experienced approximately 26 glacial lake outburst floods, resulting in an average annual loss of over 300 lives and extensive property damage due to extreme weather events.
The recent floods have severely impacted multiple hydroelectric plants, infrastructure, agricultural lands, and communities. Officials project that Nepal will require billions of dollars for initial recovery efforts. Samjwal Ratna Bajracharya, a retired ICIMOD glacier expert, noted that lowering the lakes by three meters could significantly alleviate risks, as these lakes are rapidly expanding and situated in high-altitude areas prone to outbursts caused by natural disasters or human activity.
In the wake of the disaster, the task of identifying thousands of missing persons continues to be daunting. Recovery teams are dealing with an increasing number of DNA profiles, fragmented remains, and limited resources, which may prolong the process of matching remains with their families. So far, only 112 bodies have been identified and returned to their families, while 5,285 individuals remain unaccounted for, including many foreigners. In China, the disaster has claimed 43 lives and left 519 missing, bringing the total death toll to nearly 1,500 with approximately 5,800 individuals still unaccounted for.
