New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) Tons of snow melting in the Himalayas create a deluge that eventually flows to the sea, making Nepal, India and other neighbouring countries vulnerable to sudden gushes of water, warned Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu on Thursday.
“Whatever melts in the Himalayas rises in the sea,” he said, underscoring the ecological fragility of the region and the shared vulnerability of neighbouring countries to climate change and environmental disasters. He observed that as conditions change, vulnerability increases, potentially affecting freshwater availability for two billion people in the region.
Calling it a “civilisational threat”, Khanal stressed the importance of collective action. “It’s important how we come together and act,” he said, implying a redefinition of India-Nepal relations, moving beyond traditional cultural and religious ties to embrace ecological cooperation.
“Nepal and India have always talked about our relations in terms of Roti-Beti, Sita-Ram. Religion and civilisational links have always played a big role in our ties. But we have to reframe our relationship in ecological terms,” he argued, emphasising that the future of bilateral bonds must be reframed in ecological terms given mounting environmental challenges.
Khanal’s remarks came in the wake of widespread death and destruction reported from Nepal as flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River, originating in Tibet, inundated several parts of the country. Torrents of water from Tibet surged into Nepal, sweeping away bridges, damaging hydropower plants and inundating villages.
Several major rivers flow from Nepal into Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, most notably the Gandak (Narayani), which saw the flash flood, and the Kosi River, long known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”, swelling dangerously and threatening millions of lives and livelihoods. These rivers originate in the Himalayas and Tibet before entering the Indian plains. Flash floods in Nepal have historically raised alarms in bordering Indian states, which remain highly vulnerable to upstream disasters.
This time, state governments in India convened emergency meetings and placed administrations on alert, though the impact was less severe.
Khanal emphasised that China, Nepal, India and Bhutan are bound together by ecology, regardless of political differences. “Our shared survival and future depend on protecting the Himalayan ecology,” he said, calling for collective action to safeguard the region.
The Minister’s appeal for cooperation comes as climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of natural disasters in the Himalayas. He acknowledged that political rivalries exist among countries in the region but insisted that ecological survival must take precedence. “There could be political rivalry, but we have to come together as the Himalayan region is most vulnerable to climate change,” he exhorted.
Wednesday’s flash floods reminded everyone of the urgent need for regional collaboration. While the immediate threat to Indian territories was avoided, the incident reinforced the interconnectedness of Himalayan nations and the shared risks they face.
Khanal’s remarks highlight Nepal’s diplomatic narrative, positioning ecological security as central to its relationship with India and other neighbours. By framing climate change and environmental fragility as common threats, he called for a new era of cooperation that transcends traditional ties and political divides.
–IANS
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