COP29: Nepal presenting glaring examples of climate change-induced risks
Agency: A flash flood with mudslide had struck Thame village in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district on last August 16.
The inhabitants of the area did not imagine the occurrence of such a flash flood. In no time, the erratic climatic event of flood turned the Thame village into a deserted land.
The sudden event is still like a dream for Chairperson of Khumbu Pasang Lyamu rural municipality, Tasi Lhamu Sherpa.
“We are vulnerable to climate induced risks”, he said, adding, “People here are still worried about the day they will be hit by avalanches”.
The disaster triggered by incessant rainfall in most places, including the Kathmandu Valley, on September 26. 27 and 28 is still haunting many.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) data, 250 people lost their lives in the last three days.
As many as 18 people went missing and at least 178 people were injured. Around 6,000 private houses were damaged, according to the NDRRMA data.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said the paddy produce will go down due to heavy rains during the ready-to-harvest time.
The unseasonal floods, according to the Ministry statistics, had destroyed paddy worth over Rs 8 billion three years ago as well.
Additionally, the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee claimed that the flooding occurred in the Melamchi and Indrawati Rivers in Sindhupalchowk in less than a week after the onset of monsoon three years ago had caused big damage to the project.
As its consequence, preparations are being made to shift the ‘Herdbox’ of Melamchi to another location.
After a prolonged wait for nearly three decades, the Kathmandu denizens’ long-cherished dream of accessing Melamchi drinking water was shattered by the flood.
Due to the disaster effects, the project had to be closed in the rainy season and was brought into operation only in the winter.
This year alone, 495 people have lost their lives, 66 have gone missing and 522 have been injured due to monsoon-related disasters, the NDRRMA source said.
There are several other explicit incidents of such risks created by climate change.
The 29th Conference (COP29) of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, today.
