New Delhi, Aug 28: The devastating floods in Nepal have highlighted the vulnerability of the densely populated plains of northern India, particularly Bihar, to disasters originating in the Himalayas, reports international media.
Nepal’s Himalayan rivers feed several major Indian river systems, including the Gandaki and Kosi, besides the Bagmati, Kamla-Balan and other rivers, before flowing into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Bihar, one of India’s most flood-prone states, faces a particular risk because much of the catchment area feeding its major north Bihar rivers lies outside the state. According to government estimates, only around 35% of the land supplying water through rainfall, streams and smaller rivers to these river systems is within Bihar, with much of the remaining catchment located in Nepal and Tibet.
Wednesday’s disaster, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse that sent a massive debris-filled surge downstream, has underlined the risks posed by events in the Himalayan region.
The threat is not limited to the volume of water. Flash floods can carry huge quantities of sediment and debris, raising river beds and putting additional pressure on embankments and flood-control infrastructure. As a result, a disaster that begins in the Himalayan mountains can quickly develop into a major flood threat for communities across the plains of India.
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