KATHMANDU, Sep 19: Nepal has constituted a seven member expert panel to investigate the cause and sequence of the devastating flash floods that struck the country on August 26, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and thousands missing.
The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has formed the panel with specialists in hydrology, glaciology, remote sensing, geology, hydropower infrastructure and disaster risk reduction. The team will investigate how the disaster began, how the flood developed along the Bhotekoshi River and whether climate change contributed to the catastrophe.
The panel will be headed by water policy and governance expert Debesh Belbase. Its members include hydrologist Narendra Man Shakya, glaciologist Rijan Bhakta Kayastha, remote sensing specialist Uttam Babu Shrestha, hydropower infrastructure expert Hari Pandit, geologist Meghraj Dhital and disaster risk reduction specialist Anil Pokhrel.
The floods originated near the Nepal-Tibet border and caused extensive destruction across northern and central Nepal. Homes, vehicles, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities were damaged as floodwaters moved downstream through the Bhotekoshi river system. Nepal’s official September 19 update recorded 1,411 casualties and 5,875 people still missing.
One of the key questions before the panel is whether a high-altitude glacial collapse, rockfall or another combination of glacial, geological and hydrological hazards triggered the disaster. Earlier assessments and reports have pointed towards a glacial collapse, but Nepal’s authorities are seeking a detailed scientific assessment to establish the precise sequence of events.
The panel will also study possible links between the disaster and climate change, along with the interaction of different hazards in the Himalayan region.
The government has directed the experts to submit a preliminary report within one month. The panel may recommend a more extensive scientific investigation if the initial findings indicate the need for further study.