Latest news with #Shrestha
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Heat wave, flooding risks in Hindu Kush, forecasts ICIMOD
The entire Hindu Kush Himalayan region, which includes parts of India, faces temperatures up to 2°C hotter than average this monsoon season, with severe heat wave conditions already gripping the Western Himalayas and experts warning of surging flood risks across a region where three-quarters of all floods occur during summer rains. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued the forecast on Wednesday, predicting above-average rainfall across India, Nepal, Pakistan and China's Tibetan Autonomous Region alongside the dangerous temperature spike. Meanwhile, India's Meteorological Department warned that heat wave to severe heat wave conditions will continue across northwest India, including the Western Himalayan region, until June 13, with some areas recording temperatures exceeding 40°C. The combination of extreme heat and heavy rains threatens to trigger a cascade of climate disasters across the world's highest mountain range, home to nearly 2 billion people who depend on its glaciers and rivers. 'With floods the leading cause of deaths and economic damage in the HKH, and close to three-quarters (72.5%) of all floods from 1980 to 2024 occurring during the summer monsoon season, experts warn disaster agencies and communities to brace for a possible rise in climate risks,' ICIMOD said. The analysis indicates above-normal rainfall likely over India with normal to above-normal temperatures until September. Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China face higher likelihood of above-normal temperatures during the monsoon months. 'The forecasts we've studied are unanimous in predicting a hotter monsoon across the entire HKH, with a trend towards higher-than-normal rainfall in major parts,' said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, senior adviser at ICIMOD. Multiple climate threats converge Rising temperatures combined with extreme rainfall raise risks of water-induced disasters including floods, landslides and debris flows, while having longer-term impacts on glaciers, snow reserves and permafrost, Shrestha warned. 'Lower rainfall, meanwhile, particularly in water-stressed countries such as Afghanistan, may pose risks to food and water security in a country with already extraordinarily high levels of malnutrition,' he added. Climate change can trigger intense rainfall, permafrost degradation and glacier retreat that further trigger floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods — the primary cause of increasing frequency and magnitude of mountain hazards in the region. Temperature rise combined with wetter monsoons can also raise risks of heat stress and waterborne disease outbreaks such as dengue, experts said. Current heat wave conditions The IMD reported heat wave conditions prevailed at many places on Wednesday, with severe heat wave conditions at isolated locations across Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab, and West Rajasthan. Heat wave conditions affected many places over West Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, south Haryana-Delhi and at isolated places over east Rajasthan and south Uttar Pradesh. Warm night to severe warm night conditions were observed in isolated pockets of West Uttar Pradesh and West Rajasthan. Warm night conditions are likely in isolated areas of Punjab, East Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Wednesday's forecast warned heat wave conditions are likely across Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi until June 14, with severe heat wave conditions at isolated areas on June 12. Arunachal Pradesh saw marked rises in day temperatures on Wednesday, with night temperatures also above normal due to weak monsoon conditions over the region. East Siang and East Kameng recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C, whilst Lohit, Upper Siang, Namsai, West and East Siang recorded temperatures nearing 40°C. The extreme temperatures resulted from continental easterly and northeasterly winds in lower levels, with no moisture from the Bay of Bengal due to absent favourable weather patterns. Clear skies during daytime contributed to higher solar heating. Call for enhanced preparedness 'Given the extremely high exposure and risks in our region, we urgently need impact-based early warning systems adopted at scale, and for government and donor support to build up disaster preparedness,' said Saswata Sanyal, manager of ICIMOD's disaster risk reduction work. The analysis synthesised predictions from global and regional meteorological bodies including the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Climate Centre, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Copernicus Climate Change Service and national agencies. 'The Hindu Kush Himalayas is increasingly recognised as an epicentre of not just risk but also, given the huge population sizes here, of exposure — so it's worrying that this is also a climate-data scarce region,' said Sarthak Shrestha, remote-sensing and geo-information associate at ICIMOD. 'We need the global climate banks and knowledge partners to work with national governments to bring more state-of-the-art forecasting tools to this region, to support the level of disaster readiness that will be able to save lives and protect investments,' he added.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
Hindu Kush Himalayas At Greater Risk Of Landslides, Floods This Monsoon: Report
New Delhi: There is a high risk of flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region this monsoon season due to forecasts of above-average rainfall, experts from an intergovernmental organisation said on Wednesday. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) also said temperatures across the HKH region are expected to be up to two degrees Celsius higher than normal during the monsoon. "Above-normal precipitation between June and September, as predicted by the various meteorological agencies, is fraught with the high risks of disastrous flash floods and landslides along the mountainous terrains," ICIMOD said in a report. It added that rising temperatures in the HKH can speed up the melting of glaciers and snow, leading to short-term increases in river flows and a higher risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Warmer temperatures also reduce snow build-up, which threatens the long-term water supply for millions of people living downstream. The HKH region is very sensitive to the monsoon, especially the systems linked to the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. Rainfall between June and September is the main source of water for the region. It has a major effect on river systems that support nearly two billion people. While the monsoon is crucial for refilling these rivers, the danger from water-related disasters, such as floods, landslides, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and GLOFs, is increasing due to the worsening impacts of climate change. For example, more than 72.5 per cent of flood events in the region between 1980 and 2024 happened during the monsoon season. "The forecasts we have studied are unanimous in predicting a hotter monsoon across the entire HKH, with a trend towards higher-than-normal rainfall in major parts of HKH," said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, senior advisor at ICIMOD. He said that higher temperatures and more extreme rainfall increase the risk of water-related disasters such as floods, landslides and debris flows and can have long-term effects on glaciers, snow and frozen ground. "Lower rainfall, meanwhile, particularly in water-stressed countries such as Afghanistan, may pose risks to food and water security in a country with already extraordinarily high levels of malnutrition," Shrestha said. Saswata Sanyal, manager of ICIMOD's disaster risk reduction work, said, "Given the extremely high exposure and risks in our region, we urgently need impact-based early warning systems adopted at scale and for government and donor support to build up disaster preparedness to increase."
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Hindu Kush Himalayas at greater risk of landslides, floods this monsoon season: Report
Experts warn of heightened risks of flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outbursts in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region this monsoon season. ICIMOD forecasts above-average rainfall and temperatures up to two degrees Celsius higher than normal. This combination accelerates glacier melt, increases river flows, and elevates the danger of water-related disasters. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads There is a high risk of flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region this monsoon season due to forecasts of above-average rainfall , experts from an intergovernmental organisation said on International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) also said temperatures across the HKH region are expected to be up to two degrees Celsius higher than normal during the monsoon."Above-normal precipitation between June and September, as predicted by the various meteorological agencies, is fraught with the high risks of disastrous flash floods and landslides along the mountainous terrains," ICIMOD said in a added that rising temperatures in the HKH can speed up the melting of glaciers and snow, leading to short-term increases in river flows and a higher risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Warmer temperatures also reduce snow build-up, which threatens the long-term water supply for millions of people living HKH region is very sensitive to the monsoon, especially the systems linked to the Indian Ocean and southern between June and September is the main source of water for the region. It has a major effect on river systems that support nearly two billion the monsoon is crucial for refilling these rivers, the danger from water-related disasters, such as floods, landslides, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and GLOFs, is increasing due to the worsening impacts of climate example, more than 72.5 per cent of flood events in the region between 1980 and 2024 happened during the monsoon season."The forecasts we have studied are unanimous in predicting a hotter monsoon across the entire HKH, with a trend towards higher-than-normal rainfall in major parts of HKH," said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, senior advisor at said that higher temperatures and more extreme rainfall increase the risk of water-related disasters such as floods, landslides and debris flows and can have long-term effects on glaciers, snow and frozen ground."Lower rainfall, meanwhile, particularly in water-stressed countries such as Afghanistan, may pose risks to food and water security in a country with already extraordinarily high levels of malnutrition," Shrestha Sanyal, manager of ICIMOD's disaster risk reduction work, said, "Given the extremely high exposure and risks in our region, we urgently need impact-based early warning systems adopted at scale and for government and donor support to build up disaster preparedness to increase."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Hindu Kush Himalayas at greater risk of landslides, floods this monsoon season: Report
There is a high risk of flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region this monsoon season due to forecasts of above-average rainfall , experts from an intergovernmental organisation said on Wednesday. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) also said temperatures across the HKH region are expected to be up to two degrees Celsius higher than normal during the monsoon. "Above-normal precipitation between June and September, as predicted by the various meteorological agencies, is fraught with the high risks of disastrous flash floods and landslides along the mountainous terrains," ICIMOD said in a report. It added that rising temperatures in the HKH can speed up the melting of glaciers and snow, leading to short-term increases in river flows and a higher risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Warmer temperatures also reduce snow build-up, which threatens the long-term water supply for millions of people living downstream. The HKH region is very sensitive to the monsoon, especially the systems linked to the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. Live Events Rainfall between June and September is the main source of water for the region. It has a major effect on river systems that support nearly two billion people. While the monsoon is crucial for refilling these rivers, the danger from water-related disasters, such as floods, landslides, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and GLOFs, is increasing due to the worsening impacts of climate change. For example, more than 72.5 per cent of flood events in the region between 1980 and 2024 happened during the monsoon season. "The forecasts we have studied are unanimous in predicting a hotter monsoon across the entire HKH, with a trend towards higher-than-normal rainfall in major parts of HKH," said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, senior advisor at ICIMOD. He said that higher temperatures and more extreme rainfall increase the risk of water-related disasters such as floods, landslides and debris flows and can have long-term effects on glaciers, snow and frozen ground. "Lower rainfall, meanwhile, particularly in water-stressed countries such as Afghanistan, may pose risks to food and water security in a country with already extraordinarily high levels of malnutrition," Shrestha said. Saswata Sanyal, manager of ICIMOD's disaster risk reduction work, said, "Given the extremely high exposure and risks in our region, we urgently need impact-based early warning systems adopted at scale and for government and donor support to build up disaster preparedness to increase."
The Print
6 days ago
- Health
- The Print
Nepal conducts its first successful sex change surgery
A 25-year-old transgender person from the Janakpur district of the Madhesh province changed their gender through sex reassignment surgery (male to female), Shrestha said. The surgery took place at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Chief of Plastic Surgery Department Professor Dr Jayan Man Shrestha said during a press conference. Kathmandu, Jun 8 (PTI) Nepal's first sex change surgery was successfully performed at a teaching hospital here, the head of its plastic surgery department said on Sunday. Previously, Nepalese people seeking sex reassignment surgery had to travel abroad, often to Bangkok, at high cost. The procedure can now be done within Nepal, saving patients significant expenses. In Nepal, the cost of sex change surgery is estimated between NRs. 150,000 and 200,000. Leading third-gender activist and former Member of Parliament Sunil Babu Panta demanded the formulation of a clear-cut policy on the matter. The main question, he said, is how to define identity, whether a transgender woman should be recognised as a woman or as a third gender. PTI SBP GRS GRS GRS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
