Building boom puts 300,000 people in the path of potential Himalayan disasters
Summary
A study published in Scientific Reports found that built-up land in high-risk areas of northern Nepal, south-eastern Tibet and India's Uttarakhand grew by about 45% from 2016 to 2023. Development in areas especially exposed to glacial-lake floods rose by almost 78%, potentially putting at least 300,000 people in danger; the researchers said the total could be higher because their study covered only selected areas.Key Facts
- Nine researchers from the UK, Nepal and India analyzed land up to 50km downstream from Himalayan rivers and around 1,360 glacial lakes.
- The study found increased construction of tourism facilities, infrastructure and real estate in the areas it examined.
- The research was completed before August floods in Nepal that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing, according to the article.
- A Budhi Gandaki River flood on 11 October damaged 200 houses, destroyed five bridges and left five people missing.
- Pokhara has expanded as a tourism hub, while some older buildings stand about 5m from the Seti Gandaki River, according to the city's mayor.
- Local tourism officials said development in the region has expanded without proper planning.
- The article also reports increased hydropower construction around the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.
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