Nepal to reduce flood risk by draining four glacial lakes · BNN

Nepal will launch an effort this year to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes in order to reduce flood risks—a move prompted by flash floods in August that killed more than 1,400 people—reports Reuters.Rescue teams are still searching for more than 5,000 missing persons following the August events, when a glacial collapse triggered landslides and severe flooding in narrow river valleys.Subash Tuladhar, an expert from the government’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, stated that the goal is to mitigate the risk of the lakes bursting their banks, thereby reducing the threat of flooding in the valleys. Plans call for the construction of channels to drain the lake water in a controlled manner. Tuladhar added that constructing these channels is a risky undertaking, as workers must spend extended periods in the thin mountain air, and there is also the constant possibility of flash floods.A 2020 UN Development Programme report identified four lakes—Tulangi, Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hungu II, situated at altitudes ranging from 4,050 to 5,483 meters above sea level—as among Nepal’s potentially most dangerous bodies of water. Tuladhar noted that Nepal possesses the necessary skills and experience to implement the 50 million dollar project.Sanjeeb Baral, Executive Director of Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, stated that the construction of lake drainage structures would begin following a detailed study and could take up to six years. The work will include installing sensors, establishing flood forecasting and warning systems, and strengthening downstream communities while enhancing their preparedness. Nepal previously lowered the water level of Tsho Rolpa Lake by three meters in 2000, and did the same for Imja Lake—located near Mount Everest—a decade ago.Flash floods in August destroyed dozens of hydroelectric power plants, roads, bridges, farms, and villages. Nearly five billion dollars will be required for reconstruction. Climate researchers have pointed out that rising temperatures are causing Himalayan glaciers to retreat, leaving behind unstable glacial lakes held back only by ice and loose rock. Lowering the water level of these lakes by three meters could significantly reduce the risks.