The Chief District Officer (CDO) of Solukhumbu, Devi Pandey Khatri, has raised concerns over the continued flood risk in the Thame area of Solukhumbu district. Following a devastating flood on Friday, caused by the outburst of two glacial lakes in the Thame River at Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5, CDO Khatri warned that the area remains at high risk of further flooding.
Minister for Defense Manbir Rai and Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Anil Pokharel, conducted an aerial inspection of the flood-affected Thame area on Saturday. The inspection confirmed that the flood was triggered by the outburst of two of the five glacial lakes in the region. While one of the remaining three lakes is considered safe, the other two are still at risk.
Residents of the lower Solu area and the Khumbu region have been urged to stay on high alert due to the ongoing flood threat. CDO Khatri emphasized that those living in these vulnerable areas must take precautions to protect themselves from potential flooding.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has attributed the glacial lake outburst to climate change and rising temperatures. The department reported that since August 9, the daily average temperature in the Thame area has increased from 9.7°C to 11°C, with temperatures reaching 15°C on the day of the flood. The combination of rising temperatures and continuous rainfall is believed to have triggered the glacial lake outburst.
Climate expert Rajan Thapa warned that the risk of glacial lake outbursts is not limited to the Thame area but extends to other parts of the Sagarmatha region. He expressed concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers, which poses a significant threat to human settlements in the Himalayan region.
In response to the disaster, a relief operation led by Minister Rai was carried out on Saturday. The local government and various social organizations provided relief materials to the flood-affected residents of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality-3. A total of 13 households received Rs 15,000 each and three tarpaulin sheets, while another 15 households received Rs 50,000 each. Fortunately, the residents of 20 houses that were destroyed by the flood were not present at the time of the disaster.
CDO Khatri has requested additional relief materials, including food and clothing, from the provincial government and the Department of Food Management to assist the flood survivors.
The flood has also disrupted the only road network connecting Salleri to the Khumbu area, as one side of a concrete motorable bridge was swept away. The direct road link to the lower Solu and Khumbu areas has been cut off, causing significant challenges for residents and relief efforts. The floodwaters eventually merged into the Dudhkoshi River, causing further damage to the Miteri Pul (Friendship Bridge) that borders Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality.
“Khumbu area is in chaos at present,” said Lamakaji Sherpa, Chairperson of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee in Namche. “Communication services have been disrupted due to the lack of electricity, and the risk of further glacial lake outbursts looms large.”
