Nepal Faces Rising Flood Threat As 47 Dangerous Glacial Lakes Identified

Scientific assessments by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Nepal’s government have identified 47 Potentially Dangerous Glacial Lakes. These lakes could trigger catastrophic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) across Nepal’s river systems.

Of the 47 lakes, 21 lie within Nepal and 25 sit across the border in Tibet. They occupy river headwaters that drain southwards into Nepal. Their location poses risks to downstream communities and vital infrastructure.

Authorities and the United Nations Development Programme have highlighted rapidly expanding, moraine-dammed lakes for urgent risk reduction and lake-lowering measures.

The key lakes include Lower Barun, known as Tallopokhari, Thulagi or Dona, Lumding Tsho, Hongu 2 or Chamlang South, Tsho Rolpa and Imja Tsho.

The highest exposure spans high-mountain and mid-hill districts along downstream river routes.

In eastern and central Nepal, the Koshi and Bagmati basins account for more than 85 per cent of the regional risk.

Solukhumbu faces exposure along the Dudh Koshi and Imja basins. Sankhuwasabha lies along the Barun and Arun corridors.

Dolakha faces the Tama Koshi corridor and Tsho Rolpa threat. Sindhupalchok remains vulnerable along the Bhote Koshi and Sun Koshi routes, including potential outbursts from Tibetan lakes.

Ramechhap, Kavrepalanchok and Rasuwa, particularly along the Trishuli basin, face risks.

In western and far-western Nepal, the Gandaki and Karnali basins contain vulnerable communities and hydropower assets.

These include Manang and Lamjung below Thulagi Lake, Gorkha along Budhi Gandaki, Mustang and Myagdi along Kali Gandaki, and Humla’s remote Limi Valley and Humla Karnali corridor.

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