It has been revealed that the outburst of two glacial lakes located in the upper region of Solukhumbu triggered flash floods at Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5, Thame on Friday.
Chief District Officer Devi Pandey (Khatri) told Nepalkhabar that the flash floods hit the lower region of Solukhumbu district after two out of five glacial lakes in the upper region burst yesterday.
The chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Anil Pokharel, CDO Pandey, and the representative of the rural municipality conducted a field visit on a helicopter on Saturday morning to find out the cause of the flash floods.
Khumbu Pasang Lhlamu Rural Municipality, following the infection visit, has confirmed that the outburst of the glacial lakes triggered the flash floods and added that there are no more risks of flashfloods.
However, CDO Pandey has said that out of five glacial lakes, two burst and the two are still at risk of outbursts.
"Small glacial lakes have been formed. Of them two burst and two others are still at risk, said Pandey.
A missive flash flood occurred in broad daylight in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5, Thame, on Friday, washing away 20 houses, one hotel, one health post, and a school. A rescue team of Nepali Army and Nepal Police rescued 93 people and kept them in the facility behind the army camp while 42 others have been kept in the local community building.
A team led by Defense Minister Manbir Rai on Saturday reached the flash flood-hit Thame village to take stock of the damages and distributed relifef materials to flood-hit victims.
Risk remains
CDO Pandey, who inspected the flood-damaged Khumbu region, determined that the flooding resulted from rising water levels in a glacial pond after the ice melted due to sunshine.
"CDO Pandey, who inspected the flood-hit area, estimated that the upper glacial pond expanded due to melting of ice during sunshine," said Pandey, "This overflowed into the lower pond, which subsequently burst under the pressure of the increased water volume."
There are still two more glacial ponds at risk and they might cause flash floods like yesterday's at any time, said Pandey, and suggested that settlement should be relocated to a safer area.
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