Nepal Floods A Grim Reminder To Protect Himalayan Ecology: Manish Tewari
Tewari urges greater caution to protect the fragile Himalayas.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Saturday described the devastating flash floods in Nepal as a “heartbreaking” tragedy and a warning about the vulnerability of the Himalayan ecosystem. He stressed that the Himalayas are young fold mountains and therefore particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change and infrastructure-related activity. Tewari urged greater caution in planning and development across the fragile mountain region.
Speaking to IANS, Tewari linked the disaster to wider concerns surrounding climate change and environmental protection. He argued that the events unfolding in Tibet and Nepal demonstrate the potential consequences of ignoring warnings related to global warming. His comments came as Nepal continued large-scale search and rescue operations following the massive flash floods that struck the country on Wednesday.
According to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 626 bodies had been recovered and collected as of 10 am on Saturday. The flash flood originated in the Tibetan region of China and swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River, causing widespread destruction in downstream areas. Authorities have warned that the death toll could increase as rescue teams continue searching affected regions.
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Bodies have been recovered from riverbanks in several districts along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun and Nawalparasi. The disaster has affected communities across several parts of Nepal, with authorities continuing efforts to locate people who remain missing and assist those stranded by flooding and landslides.
Search and rescue operations are underway across the affected districts, with police coordinating with local residents and other agencies. Rescued people are being moved from high-risk areas to safer locations, while teams are also clearing roads obstructed by flood debris and landslides. Restoring road connectivity remains important for reaching isolated communities and facilitating relief operations.
Tewari's remarks have brought renewed attention to the environmental risks facing the Himalayan region, where climate change and development pressures intersect with naturally fragile terrain. The scale of the Nepal disaster has underscored the need for careful ecological planning, stronger disaster preparedness and greater attention to early warnings in vulnerable mountain areas.
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