A glacial collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border sent flash floods tearing through villages last Wednesday — but what actually triggered it, and were there warnings that went ignored? Search teams are still working, with hundreds of bodies recovered, more than a thousand people still missing, and Wisma Putra confirming 55 Malaysians among those unaccounted for. It's at least the third glacial lake or flood event on this same river system in two years, which raises the question of why no effective early-warning system is in place — and whether Kathmandu responded fast enough once the water came. With debris now blocking rivers and more flooding expected, we ask what has to change. We speak to Dr Amit Ranjan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

A glacial collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border sent flash floods tearing through villages last Wednesday — but what actually triggered it, and were there warnings that went ignored? Search teams are still working, with hundreds of bodies recovered, more than a thousand people still missing, and Wisma Putra confirming 55 Malaysians among those unaccounted for. It's at least the third glacial lake or flood event on this same river system in two years, which raises the question of why no effective early-warning system is in place — and whether Kathmandu responded fast enough once the water came. With debris now blocking rivers and more flooding expected, we ask what has to change. We speak to Dr Amit Ranjan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Opinion and analysis of today&rsquo;s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.