न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Oct 7: Experts and disaster management specialists called for stronger disaster preparedness, timely early warning systems and increased investment in risk reduction to address growing flood risks in Nepal’s Himalayan region.

The call was made today during Rotary District 3292: Nepal and Bhutan’s Inter-City Meeting (ICM) titled “From Catastrophe to Preparedness: Understanding Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi Floods 2026 and Managing Himalayan Floods”. 

The meeting brought together experts from disaster management, cryosphere research, human geography and disaster response to discuss the causes, impacts and response challenges associated with the devastating Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi floods of 26th August 2026.

Dr Nitesh Khadka, a researcher in cryosphere and glacial hazards, explained the science behind the massive rock-ice avalanche and debris flow along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river system on August 26. He warned – according to existing studies – how 47 glacial lakes categorized as potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGL) were at the risk of outburst. 

He emphasized the importance of investing in preparedness before disasters occur rather than focusing primarily on response and recovery after a disaster.

Dr Shravan Kumar Ghimire, a human geographer and spatial analyst, presented findings on the infrastructure, accessibility and socio-economic impacts of the Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi flood.

He explained how the event was both unpredictable and unprecedented, leaving very little time for effective warning and evacuation and consequently causing humongous damage to human lives, assets and livelihoods along the flood path. 

Col (Retd) Ratindra Khatri, a disaster preparedness and response specialist, highlighted the challenges faced during rescue and response operations. He explained how the lack of previous experience in tunnel rescue made the Bhotekoshi operation particularly challenging. 

Khatri identified difficult terrain and limited accessibility, adverse weather, communication disruptions, limited response time, remote and scattered settlements, coordination challenges, logistical constraints and insufficient community preparedness as major challenges to the response.

Dr Meen Bahadur Poudyal Chhetri, Immediate Past President and Executive Director of the Nepal Center for Disaster Management (NCDM), described the Bhotekoshi event as a complex cascading disaster.

He stressed on the need to strengthen Nepal’s technological capacity for disaster preparedness, including the development of national satellite capacity. He noted that Nepal had to depend on satellite information from China during the Bhotekoshi flood.

The meeting highlighted the growing need for Nepal to strengthen early warning systems, disaster monitoring, communication, information integrity, community preparedness and response capacity, particularly in vulnerable Himalayan regions.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session between participants and the experts.

The meeting was chaired by District ICM Chair Anish Bajracharya. The meeting was organized by the Rotary Club of Rajdhani in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Changu, Kantipur Kathmandu, Kopundol, Thamel, Pashupati Kathmandu, and Vision Kathmandu.