Don’t Let Borders Blind Us to Himalayan Risks

Context

Recent flash floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayan region demonstrate that natural hazards often extend beyond political boundaries. This highlights the need to move from country specific disaster management approaches towards regional risk governance and coordinated disaster preparedness.

Key Highlights

• Disasters such as GLOFs and landslides highlight the importance of viewing the Himalayas as an interconnected geographical and ecological system, rather than as isolated national territories.
• GLOFs may originate in upstream areas and cause severe impacts downstream, affecting settlements, infrastructure, river systems and livelihoods across international borders.
• India has also witnessed major Himalayan disasters, including the 2014 Bhote Kosi landslide and the 2023 South Lhonak GLOF in Sikkim, illustrating the transboundary nature of Himalayan hazards.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources has emphasised the need to strengthen disaster preparedness and management mechanisms for glacial-melt and GLOF related risks in the Himalayan region.
• A regional framework involving India, Nepal, Bangladesh and other Himalayan countries could support the development of common early-warning mechanisms, shared risk assessments, standardised response protocols and coordinated emergency operations.

Way Forward

A Himalayan regional early-warning network can be developed to improve disaster preparedness. Countries in the region can work towards harmonising GLOF and flash flood response protocols, sharing hydrological and satellite data, conducting joint risk assessments and organising coordinated disaster-response exercises.

Such cooperation can strengthen transboundary disaster management, improve preparedness and reduce the potential impact of hazards across the Himalayan river systems.