Nepal Launches AI-Powered Early Warning System for Landslides

Nepal has launched a cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence-based Early Warning System to predict landslides during the monsoon season. Developed in collaboration with the UK’s University of Leeds and Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan University, the system uses satellite data and local sensors to alert at-risk areas.

This move comes as landslides have become more frequent in Nepal due to deforestation, unplanned road construction, and climate change. Over 300 people died in landslide-related incidents in 2023 alone. The AI platform will send real-time alerts to local governments and villages through mobile phones and FM radio. Pilot testing in Sindhupalchok and Gorkha districts has already shown promising results.

Neighboring countries like India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh have expressed interest in adapting the model to their hilly and flood-prone regions. Experts say this cross-border tech-sharing could drastically reduce disaster-related casualties in South Asia. The project has also been supported by the World Bank and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), opening avenues for a broader regional disaster preparedness strategy.