Experts Urge Transnational Early Warning System for Himalayan Flood Risk

Kathmandu. Experts have stressed the need to immediately establish a 'transnational early warning system' to reduce the risk of floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) coming from across the border (upper riparian areas) in the Himalayan region. The need for an immediate transnational information exchange mechanism has been highlighted, as even a short period of warning before a disaster can save many lives.

In an interview with News Agency Nepal, climate change risk reduction expert Ujjwal Upadhyay asserted that if there had been an early warning for the Rasuwa flood disaster, the human casualties could have been reduced to zero. He stated that because information such as heavy rainfall, landslides, or the risk of glacial lake outburst in the high Himalayas is only available with the Chinese side, preparations could not be made. He clarified that if a mechanism capable of exchanging information were in place, the potential damage could be significantly reduced.