Key facts
- Built-up land in high-risk Himalayan zones grew 45% between 2016-2023.
- Development near glacial lakes increased 78% in the same period.
- At least 300,000 people are estimated to be in the path of potential disasters.
- Warming in the Himalayas is occurring at twice the global rate, accelerating glacier melt.
- Nepal plans to ban settlements within 15m of riverbanks in devastated areas.
Construction of tourism and housing facilities has surged in parts of the Himalayas, placing an estimated 300,000 people in the path of potential disasters, according to a new study. Researchers found that built-up land in high-risk zones in northern Nepal, parts of Tibet, and India's Uttarakhand increased by 45% between 2016 and 2023. Development around glacial lakes saw an even faster rise of nearly 78% over the same period. The study, published in Scientific Reports, highlights the growing threat from glacial lake outburst floods and landslides, exacerbated by warming temperatures in the region which are melting glaciers at twice the global rate. Cities like Pokhara in Nepal are facing significant risks, with many buildings located dangerously close to rivers. Local officials and tourism operators acknowledge the haphazard expansion and the challenge of relocating communities and managing disaster risks.