Kathmandu. Ground and drone monitoring has been started on the risk of possible glacial lakes and floods in the high mountainous areas of Upper Mustang. Officials said that there is no immediate sign of any potential risk in the areas monitored so far.

Following the Bhotekoshi floods, disaster risk identification and preparedness in the high mountainous areas have been intensified in Upper Mustang. A joint team of the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal’s BOP Nechung, Nepal Police, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Lomanthang and Conservation Area Management Committee have been monitoring the sources of the Kaligandaki river system and the high mountain areas in coordination with the District Administration Office, Mustang.

Umesh Poudel, chief of ACAP Lomanthang, said that in the first phase, two sources of the Kaligandaki river system near the border pillar number 18 and 19 along the Nepal-China border were inspected by on-site and through drones. He said that the situation of snowfall in these areas and the possible risk has been assessed and there is no risk at present.

In the second phase of the monitoring, the Ghikarchhu lake located in the high mountainous area above Lomanthang was inspected. Poudel said that while inspecting the area which is at an altitude of about 5,550 meters above sea level, glacial mounds were seen during the inspection through drones, but there was no immediate sign of danger.

He said that there is a plan to monitor the Kaligandaki river system in the mountainous area above the head of Chuama Peak above Chumjung of Lomanthang and the mountainous area above Loghekar Damodar Kunda-1, Charang. He said that the on-site inspection is being carried out as the GPS has seen the presence of glacial lakes in these areas.

Last year, the risk of flooding in the Kaligandaki river system from Chhuama Peak above Chumjung of Lomanthang increased in the local area. According to ACAP, regular monitoring of river sources and sensitive areas will be continued keeping in mind the possibility of glacial lake bursting, avalanche or flood in the high mountainous region.

Regular monitoring and disaster preparedness would be strengthened in high mountainous areas for disaster risk identification, early warning and effective response.