Study finds 108,500 people in Nepal exposed to flood risk from construction boom

A new study found that construction, hydropower development, road expansion, and unplanned urbanization are increasing flood risks in Nepal's mountain regions. At least 108,500 people in Nepal are exposed to potential flooding, and the number of buildings in potential flood zones increased by 78 percent between 2016 and 2023. The study also noted that temperatures in the Himalayan region have risen by 3 degrees Celsius in individual winter months, compared with a global average warming of 1.4 degrees Celsius.

The expansion of settlements into vulnerable areas, combined with rapid glacial melt in the Hindu Kush, increases the likelihood of compounding hazards. This poses significant risks to infrastructure and requires increased planning for disaster resilience in Nepal.