Nepal is moving forward with a plan to drain four high-risk glacial lakes to reduce the threat of future floods, following the devastating Bhote Koshi flood that has killed 1,476 people and left 5,259 missing in Nepal and China.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government will initiate detailed study and design work on the Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tso, and Hongu-2 glacial lakes within the current fiscal year, which began on July 17, 2026, Reuters reported. These lakes are located at elevations ranging from 4,050 to 5,483 meters.
The Bhote Koshi flood, which occurred on August 26, 2026, near the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa District, was triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in the Himalayas. This event caused massive landslides and flash floods, leading to widespread destruction along the Bhote Koshi river system.
Mitigating Future Flood Risks
The primary objective of the project is to reduce the risk of natural dam bursts from these glacial lakes and lessen the flood threat to downstream areas, said Subash Tuladhar, a project focal person at the Water and Energy Commission’s Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Research, a government research center overseeing the new initiative.
The plan involves channeling water from the glacial lakes into nearby rivers in a controlled manner through canals and gate structures. However, working at high altitudes for extended periods poses significant health risks to workers, in addition to the inherent danger of sudden floods.
According to Sanjeev Baral, executive director of the Water and Energy Commission’s Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Research, the actual draining work will commence after the detailed studies are completed and could take up to six years to finish.
The project is estimated to cost approximately $50 million. It will be funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a global fund supporting climate action, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Nepal government. The GCF has already approved a grant of $36.1 million for glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk reduction in Nepal. The overall project, including the GCF grant, is slated for a seven-year duration.
Beyond draining, the project also includes installing sensors to monitor the lakes’ conditions, developing flood forecasting and early warning systems, and preparing downstream communities for potential risks.
Past Efforts and Climate Change Impact
Nepal has previously undertaken efforts to lower water levels in high-risk glacial lakes. In 2000, the water level of Tsho Rolpa glacial lake was reduced by approximately three meters. Subsequently, the water level of Imja glacial lake in the Everest region was also lowered by 3.4 meters in November/December 2016.
Glacial lake expert Samjwal Ratna Bajracharya noted that reducing the water level of glacial lakes by three meters significantly reduces risk. He emphasized that glacial lakes are rapidly expanding and are vulnerable to bursting at any time due to earthquakes, avalanches, weather changes, and human activities.
Nepal has recorded 26 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events, where glacial lakes burst their natural dams, since 1977, 11 of which had cross-border impacts, causing human casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. Experts warn that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, increasing the risk of unstable glacial lakes.
Post-Flood Response and Future Actions
As of October 1, 2026, the Bhote Koshi flood has resulted in 1,455 confirmed deaths and 4,718 missing persons in Nepal. In the Kerung border area of China, 21 deaths and 541 missing persons were reported as of September 2, 2026. This brings the combined total to 1,476 deaths and 5,259 missing across both countries.
On September 30, 2026, a meeting of the Executive Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, decided to transition post-flood operations from ‘search and rescue’ to ‘search and rehabilitation’. The Ministry of Law is working on legal amendments to declare missing citizens as deceased, while the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure will oversee the construction of temporary settlements in potentially safe areas.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Dol Prasad Aryal announced on October 2, 2026, that Nepal plans to highlight the climate change-induced disaster it has faced at the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Earlier, Prime Minister Shah had expressed Nepal’s concerns about the effects of climate change at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2026.
Unresolved Issues
While the detailed study and design work for draining the glacial lakes are set to begin within the current fiscal year, a precise start date has not been specified. Additionally, the exact cause of the glacier collapse in the Nepal-China border area in August 2026 remains unclear.
