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India is stepping up monitoring of its Himalayan regions bordering China and Nepal, days after deadly floods apparently triggered by a glacial collapse, authorities said Saturday.
The US Geological Survey said the disaster on Wednesday on the Tibet-Nepal border was caused by a glacial collapse that created a torrent of debris, with nearly 3,000 missing and 633 confirmed dead.
While the exact cause of the collapse is unclear, climate change is causing glaciers to melt worldwide, increasing the risks of such disasters.
“Since we share a border with Nepal, as a neighbour, and also have a similar geographic situation… we have asked our department to monitor all the glaciers and known glacial lakes in the region,” said Madan Kaushik, state disaster management minister in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
“We have asked our teams to be vigilant and monitor if a similar situation is emerging anywhere in the state,” he told AFP.
Uttarakhand is one of the most ecologically sensitive regions of India, with 1,266 glacial lakes, according to government figures.
Himalayan glaciers, which provide critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn.
Melting glaciers and thawing permafrost can also destabilise mountain slopes and increase the risk of landslides.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
Nepal President thanks India for support
Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday expressed gratitude to his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu for her concern and the support extended by the government of India following the devastating flash floods in Nepal that left hundreds dead and caused widespread destruction.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, I extend our deepest gratitude to Your Excellency Smt Droupadi Murmu for your kind concern and also for the generous support and solidarity extended by your government following the recent calamity in Nepal,” the Office of the President of Nepal posted on X.
Paudel also conveyed condolences over the tragic loss of Indian lives in the aftermath of the catastrophic flood on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday stated that 149 Indian nationals crossed over safely into Nepal from China, while 320 people continue to remain missing or not contactable, in the wake of the deadly floods in Nepal.
Following the devastating floods, President Murmu on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Nepal and reaffirmed New Delhi’s readiness to assist the Himalayan nation in its relief and rescue efforts.
Modi speaks to Nepalese counterpart
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with his Nepali counterpart Balendra Shah and offered condolences on the loss of lives due to the flash floods in the Himalayan nation.
“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time,” PM Modi posted on X.
“India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” he added.
Musician Vishal Mishra has pledged to organise concerts in Assam and Nepal, with every penny raised going towards flood relief and supporting the affected people. He went on to share that an official announcement will follow soon.
Organise an airlift for us, Kannadigas urge CM
Kannadigas stranded in Nepal on Saturday urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to arrange an airlift, citing the risk of landslides and the difficult 12-15-hour road journey back.
Shivakumar, who interacted with a group of pilgrims from Karnataka through a video conference, assured them that he would assess the situation and take necessary steps to ensure their safe return.
It may be recalled that as many as 17 people from Karnataka, including Infosys Public Services CEO Lax Gopisetty, remained untraceable in Nepal till Saturday.
Unbearable to watch: Amitabh Bachchan
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan expressed his concern over the devastating floods in Nepal, describing the destruction as “unbearable to watch”.
Taking to his blog, Amitabh said that the fury of nature cannot be battled, but calls for divine intervention.
Indo-Asian News Service
