Members of Parliament raised urgent concerns in the National Assembly today over the severe damage caused by recent floods and landslides in Solukhumbu’s Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5, Thame. The natural disaster, which struck on August 16, 2024, has led to significant loss of life and property, prompting calls for immediate government intervention.
MP Krishna Bahadur Rokaya highlighted the gravity of the situation during the emergency session, reporting that the floods swept away 20 houses, along with a clinic and a school building. “One person is missing, and several houses have been buried under the debris,” he said, urging the government to expedite search and rescue operations for the missing individual.
Rokaya also expressed concerns about a potential glacial lake outburst being the cause of the floods. “There needs to be an investigation into how the glacial lake burst. The government must remain vigilant about the risks posed by other glacial lakes that could potentially burst,” he added.
MP Rukmini Koirala also spoke on the issue, noting the severe damage caused by the sudden landslide in Solukhumbu, which has resulted in several homes being destroyed and people missing. “The Dudh Koshi River is also flooding, posing a significant danger. I urge the government to assess the true extent of the damage caused by the glacial lake outburst and the floods and to provide the necessary compensation,” Koirala said, pointing to the role of climate change in exacerbating such disasters.
Echoing these concerns, MP Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami emphasized the region’s vulnerability due to its geographic and climatic conditions. “With the ongoing monsoon rains, the situation in these mountainous areas remains precarious. The government must focus on reconstruction and resettlement efforts, as more glacial lakes are reportedly at risk,” he stated.
Earlier in the session, MP Jayanti Devi Rai, along with other lawmakers, underscored the need to relocate the residents of Thame village in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5 to safer areas to prevent further loss of life.
The lawmakers collectively called on the government to take immediate and comprehensive action to address the aftermath of this disaster and to mitigate future risks associated with glacial lake outbursts and monsoon-induced landslides.
