Risk Assessment Identifies 47 High‑Risk Glacial Lakes in Nepal and Tibet

Kathmandu – According to the latest risk assessment carried out by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development together with Nepal’s scientific agencies, 47 glacial lakes have been tagged as Potentially Dangerous Glacial Lakes (PDGLs). These lakes could trigger glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) without warning, flooding river valleys and endangering lives and assets.

The inventory lists 21 lakes on the Nepalese side and 25 across the border in Tibet. All are located in the upper reaches of river systems that flow south, meaning that any sudden release would travel downstream to populated valleys.

UNDP and Nepal’s disaster management officials have highlighted a group of rapidly expanding moraine‑dammed lakes that need urgent mitigation. Options include controlled drainage, dam reinforcement and continuous level monitoring.

Among the most hazardous are Lower Barun (Tailopokhari), Thulagi (Dona), Lumding Tso, Hongu‑2/Chamlang South, Tso Rolpa and Imja Tso. A major outburst could devastate villages, damage roads, bridges and hydro‑electric plants situated along the river corridors.

Geographically, the threat is concentrated in eastern and central Nepal, especially within the Koshi and Bagmati basins, which together represent more than 85 % of the regional exposure. Districts such as Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Dolakha, Sindhupalchok and the river‑front settlements of Ramechhap, Kavrepalanchok and Rasuwa are especially vulnerable.

Western and far‑western provinces, home to the Gandaki and Karnali basins, also host at‑risk communities and hydropower schemes. Manang, Lamjung, Gorkha, Mustang, Mustang, Mustang, Mustang—sorry, Manang, Lamjung, Gorkha, Mustang, Myagdi and remote sections of Humla could face similar dangers.

The assessment urges immediate implementation of early‑warning systems, lake level reduction programs and infrastructure upgrades to safeguard the high‑risk zones.