“RESILIENT NATION”
Glaciers in the wider Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges are a crucial water source for around 240 million people in the mountainous regions, as well as for another 1.65 billion people in the South Asian and Southeast Asian river valleys below.
“It impacts the entirety of Himalayan region’s civilisation,” Khanal said.
“We are a downstream community for China, and an upstream community of India, and the Himalayan rivers impact all of us,” he added.
The glacial collapse has highlighted the need to speed up data-sharing mechanisms to alert to any similar catastrophes, said the minister.
“Since the disaster, China has shared a lot of data, especially for this region where this particular disaster occurred,” he said.
“This disaster does give more impetus and urgency to us to build the mechanism in a much significantly faster timeline.”
While Nepal is now in mourning, Khanal said people should still come to visit.
“We’re in a moment of sorrow and grief,” he said.
“But this is very resilient nation… Nepal still remains open.”
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