The Nepal floods question: When the Himalayas collapse, who gets warned?
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India & neighbourhood· Prelims + Mains·
Transboundary disaster management and Himalayan ecology: a GS2 and GS3 case study.
Why in news
A massive ice-rock avalanche in Nepal's Rasuwa district triggered floods in Nepal and Tibet, highlighting the urgent need for cross-border early warning systems in the Himalayas.
Background
On August 26, an ice-rock avalanche in Rasuwa district sent a surge of water and debris down the Lhende Khola River.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceRasuwa district is located in Nepal.
- FactThe disaster resulted in over 1,400 deaths and at least 6,000 missing people.
- FactTwelve hydropower plants were destroyed in the floods.
- PlaceLhende Khola River is the waterway through which the flood surge traveled.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the recent floods in the Himalayan region, consider the following statements:
- The disaster resulted in over 2,000 deaths.
- The flood surge traveled through the Lhende Khola River.
- The ice-rock avalanche occurred in the Rasuwa district of Nepal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)2 only
- (b)3 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The note states the disaster resulted in over 1,400 deaths.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges of establishing transboundary early warning systems for climate-induced disasters in the Himalayan region.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Geopolitical friction: Difficulty in establishing real-time data sharing protocols between India, China, and Nepal.
- Technical constraints: Monitoring high-altitude permafrost and glacier stability in remote, inaccessible terrain.
- Infrastructure vulnerability: Impact of hydropower and tourism expansion into high-risk mountain valleys.
Keywords: transboundary cooperation · early warning systems · climate-induced disasters · Himalayan ecology · disaster management
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.