Climate change leaves a mark on Nepal high Himalayan region
Last Updated on December 19, 2024 6:45 am
On 5 June 2024, Beding and Na village of Nepal received unexpected rainfall in over one hundred years. Those villages are located at an altitude of over 4,000 meters from the sea level. The flood in the Rolwaling River caused widespread destruction, altering the natural environment, and disrupting the lives of residents.
The Rolwaling River descends from Nepal’s Himalayan region, and it is the source of water for the country’s Tsho Rolpa Glacial Lake.
Aside from damaged the footpath leading to Chho Rolpa Glacial Lake, floods swept away four suspension bridges. For 45 days, the villages of Beding and Na were completely cut off, forcing food supplies to be delivered by helicopter.
According to the Local populace, the amount of rainfall was unprecedented in the high Himalayan region, and the local village populace had never experienced such a phenomenon.
Nimachhiri Sherpa, a 92-year-old resident of Beding in Dolakha-Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9, witnessed the heaviest rains he had ever seen in his lifetime. Beding, situated at an altitude of 3,707 meters, usually experiences snow in the winter.
“I have never seen such heavy rain in the monsoon since I was born. It rained, but we never expected floods like this,” says Nimachhiri.
Unprecedented rainfall in high Himalayas
On June 21, 2024 abnormal rainfall hit the areas above 3,500 meters in Gaurishankar Rural Municipality, triggering floods and landslides.
Dabachhiri Sherpa, another local resident, explained that the flood originated in the higher Himalayas and caused considerable damage downstream.
“The rain reached the mountain slopes, creating a massive flood mixed with debris. The Rolwaling River was overwhelmed, cutting through its banks on both sides,” he added.
Several tributaries, including the Humgulju, Mahadev, Tanni, and Rangchungmapari rivers, feed into the Rolwaling. Dabachhiri observed that small glacial ponds formed by melting snow in the upper reaches burst during the heavy rain, further intensifying the flood.
“I have seen these ponds myself. They are usually stable, but this time they overflowed, causing massive destruction,” he pointed out.
A century-high flood
According to Ward President of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9 Nimgeli Sherpa this was the largest flood in the Rolwaling River in one hundred years.
The river, which originates from Chho Rolpa Glacier Lake, carved deep channels along its banks between Na village (altitude 4,180 meters) and Calche (approximately 2,700 meters). The floodwaters carried debris from the higher Himalayan slopes, adding to the devastation.
The floods destroyed four bridges in various locations and disrupted electricity supplies to villages like Beding and Thangdin. These areas have been without power since June after floods and landslides swept away electricity poles supplied from Simigaon.
The villages have remained in darkness for four months
Despite the severity of this disaster, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology lacks precise data on the rainfall that triggered the floods.
Senior meteorologist Bibhuti Pokharel confirmed that while rain gauges are installed in Beding and Chho Rolpa, no records are available for the catastrophic event.
Damage to a cultural trail
The Chho Rolpa trail, a popular trekking route in Nepal, suffered extensive damage. This trail, frequented by hundreds of tourists annually, connects Chho Rolpa Himtal and Dudhkund, and serves as a route for those crossing Tashi Lapcha Pass between Dolakha and Solukhumbu.
The floods washed away thirteen kilometers of this trail, along with some houses and hotels near Calche. According to locals, a woman lost her life in the flood.
Villagers in Beding and Na were left stranded after the road was destroyed. Helicopters delivered essential supplies, including rice, during the 45-day isolation.
It took a team of thirty workers over 45 days to rebuild the thirteen kilometers of damaged trail. Although the path has been restored, it remains challenging for pedestrians, increasing travel time for tourists.
Impact on tourism, livelihoods
Dil Bahadur Magar, a 52-year-old porter from Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9, has been carrying heavy loads for tourists since he was sixteen.
His income depends on trekking tourism, particularly on the Tashi Lapcha Pass, which rises to 5,700 meters. However, he worries that diminishing snow and unstable trails may deter tourists.
“The snow on Tasilapcha is melting, and the Chho Rolpa Glacier has expanded. The path by the lake has merged into the lake itself,” he says. “At this rate, the trail will disappear in ten years. If that happens, why would tourists come?”
The future of trekking and tourism in the area hangs in balance as local communities grapple with the aftermath of the flood, and the ongoing effects of climate change.