The Bhotekoshi flood | A Himalayan tragedy
The article details a devastating flash flood in Nepal's Bhotekoshi River, near the border with Tibet, which caused significant loss of life and destruction. Scientists attribute the disaster to a 'sturzstrom' – a massive rock-ice avalanche – originating in the Langtang Lirung area, possibly involving permafrost movement and a rockslide. The event highlights the fragility of Himalayan mountain ecosystems, the challenges of early-warning systems in such terrains, and the potential role of climate change in exacerbating such geodisasters, drawing parallels with India's 2021 Chamoli disaster.
The article details a devastating flash flood in Nepal's Bhotekoshi River, near the border with Tibet, which caused significant loss of life and destruction. Scientists attribute the disaster to a 'sturzstrom' – a massive rock-ice avalanche – originating in the Langtang Lirung area, possibly involving permafrost movement and a rockslide. The event highlights the fragility of Himalayan mountain ecosystems, the challenges of early-warning systems in such terrains, and the potential role of climate change in exacerbating such geodisasters, drawing parallels with India's 2021 Chamoli disaster.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Environment & Ecology (Climate Change, Disaster Management); Physical Geography (Geomorphology, Natural Disasters)
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
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