Chief District Officer (CDO) of Solukhumbu, Devi Pandey Khatri, has warned that the risk of flooding in the Thame area of Solukhumbu district is not yet over. The flood in the Thame River at Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5 on Friday was confirmed to have been caused by the outburst of two glacial lakes, government authorities confirmed.
Minister for Defense Manbir Rai and Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA), Anil Pokharel, conducted an aerial inspection of the flood-affected Thame area on Saturday. Following the inspection, CDO Khatri confirmed the cause of the flood and highlighted ongoing risks in the region.
The Disaster Management Committee reported that it might be difficult to prevent further outbursts from other glacial lakes at risk.
"There are five glacial lakes above the Thame area. It has been confirmed that the flood was caused by the outburst of two of these lakes. Among the remaining three, one is considered safe while two others are still at risk," CDO Khatri cautioned.
Residents in the lower Solu area and the Khumbu region are at high risk of further flooding. As a result, CDO Khatri has urged the local population to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology attributed the glacial lake outburst in Thame to climate change and rising temperatures. According to the department, the daily average temperature in the Thame area has been increasing since August 9, rising from 9.7 degrees Celsius to 11 degrees Celsius. On the day of the flood, the temperature peaked at 15 degrees Celsius, exacerbated by continuous rainfall.
Climate expert Rajan Thapa warned that glacial lakes throughout the Sagarmatha region are at high risk of outburst due to the abnormal rise in temperatures. "The melting of glaciers in the mountains has accelerated alarmingly, putting human settlements in the mountainous region at increased risk," he cautioned.
In response to the disaster, a relief distribution operation was carried out by a team led by Minister Rai on Saturday. The local government and various social organizations provided relief materials to the flood-affected residents of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-3. A total of 13 households received Rs 15,000 each and three tarpaulin sheets each through the District Disaster Rescue Fund, while the local government provided Rs 50,000 each to 15 affected households.
Fortunately, the residents of 20 houses that were completely destroyed by the flood were not present at the incident site at the time of the disaster. CDO Khatri has requested additional relief materials, such as food and clothing, from the provincial government and the Department of Food Management.
The flood also caused significant damage to infrastructure, disrupting the only road network connecting Salleri to the Khumbu area by washing away part of a concrete motorable bridge. The floodwaters merged into the Dudhkoshi River after passing through the Bhotekoshi River, causing damage to the Friendship Bridge on the border between Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality.
"Khumbu area is in chaos at present. Communication services have been disrupted due to the lack of electricity, and the risk of further glacial lake outbursts looms large," expressed Lamakaji Sherpa, chairperson of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee in Namche. -- RSS
