Ditch political feuds and focus on saving lives, say climate experts
Kathmandu — When heavy monsoon rains triggered unprecedented flooding last August in the area around western Nepal’s Babai and West Rapti rivers, the swollen waters crossed the border into India within a few hours. But swift warnings from Nepali authorities to the down-river Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh allowed officials there to move people to safety, Indian officials say. Without that advice from Nepal’s department of hydrology and meteorology, "there would have been no possibility for the Indian authorities to ensure timely evacuation of the people, which (would have) otherwise led to huge loss of lives," said Anand Sharma of the Indian meteorological department. As climate change increases the risk of flooding, glacial lake outbursts and cyclones, as well as droughts and heat waves, experts say that sharing information across borders is crucial to save lives and ensure economic stability in Asia’s Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region. The region, which stretches from Afg...
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