Is Climate Change / Global Warming Responsible for the Recent Flash Flood Tragedy in Nepal?

Environmental scientists have already cautioned and warned that climate change and global warming could increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, including unexpected flash floods in the future.
The continuous rise in temperatures, melting of glaciers, population growth, unplanned infrastructure development, construction of roads, encroachments along riverbeds and water channels, vehicular emissions, indiscriminate felling of trees, expanding concrete jungles and the construction of multi-storey buildings in hilly areas are among the factors that can aggravate the impact of natural disasters.
The rapid increase in population, growing number of vehicles, construction of multi-storey concrete buildings, large-scale cutting of trees for infrastructure development and the unchecked discharge of waste into rivers are placing enormous pressure on the environment. Unexpected rainfall and floods can be among the consequences of a changing climate, although every individual disaster cannot be attributed solely to global warming.
The changing environmental conditions across the globe indicate that rainfall patterns are also undergoing significant changes. Even desert regions have experienced unusual and intense rainfall in recent years. Such changes could, over time, alter ecosystems and agricultural conditions in regions that have traditionally remained dry.
There is also growing concern that rising temperatures are contributing to the melting of glaciers and ice masses in mountainous regions, while thermal expansion and melting land ice are contributing to rising sea levels.
In mountainous areas, accelerated glacier melting can increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Sometimes, a glacier may collapse or an ice avalanche may enter a glacial lake, displacing a large volume of water. If the natural dam holding the lake cannot withstand the sudden pressure, it may fail, releasing a massive amount of water downstream.
Such sudden floods can create havoc within minutes, leaving people with little or no time to escape. Buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure in the path of the floodwaters can be destroyed or buried under mud, debris and sludge.
The recent tragedy in Nepal once again highlights the vulnerability of communities living in mountainous and downstream areas. The scale of destruction reminds us that nature remains far more powerful than human beings and that development without adequate environmental safeguards can increase the risks faced by communities.
The disaster also brings back memories of the catastrophic floods in Uttarakhand, including the Kedarnath tragedy of 2013. Such events underline the importance of understanding the relationship between changing weather patterns, fragile mountain ecosystems, glacier dynamics and human development.
It is the collective responsibility of human beings to maintain ecological balance for future generations. Large-scale plantation and protection of existing forests are essential, as trees play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
We must collectively work to preserve ecological balance and create a cleaner, pollution-free environment. At the same time, governments and communities need to strengthen early-warning systems, disaster preparedness, scientific monitoring of glaciers and vulnerable lakes, and environmentally responsible planning in mountainous regions.
Climate change is a global challenge, and natural disasters cannot always be prevented. However, through responsible development, protection of forests and water bodies, reduction of pollution and better preparedness, the loss of human lives and property can be significantly reduced.
Authored by:
Rajat Kumar Mohindru
Journalist
Jalandhar City
(Views are personal)