Nepal Warns of New Glacial Lakes Near Bhote Koshi

Nepal faces new concerns after recent floods, with reports of two additional glacial lakes forming near the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system. Krishna Vatsa, head of the National Disaster Management Authority, confirmed that the lakes had appeared, saying that there were no estimates of the amount of water they could hold. One of the lakes is 19.80 hectares while the other is 7.28 hectares, although the amount of water that they can hold is not yet calculated.

Vatsa explained that in addition to the two lakes there are also debris from the glaciers like rocks and soil; he also pointed out that this situation could be dangerous. He stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring but noted that India has limited capacity to inspect these naturally formed lakes in Nepal. He warned that predicting their future development is currently impossible.

Meanwhile, Noida-based firm Suhora Technologies has identified a new lake in the same region. Using high-resolution satellite imagery taken on 27 August, the company detected a water body covering approximately 20.25 hectares in the high-altitude Lende Khola area, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.

Suhora emphasised the need for continuous monitoring of this lake’s development following the floods on 26 August. The firm plans to use satellite data and field studies to assess its formation, depth, stability, and potential threat to downstream communities.