Expansion of Flood Early Warning System in Nepal

On October 25, 2026, the Government of Nepal unveiled a plan to expand early warning systems across six river basins and reduce water levels in four high-risk glacial lakes.

Key Highlights

Project Objective: Following the devastating floods of August 2026, Nepal has prioritized flood forecasting, disaster preparedness, and mitigating risks posed by glacial lakes.
Flood Warning Project: Under the ‘Priority River Basin Flood Risk Management’ project, early warning systems will be developed across six river basins.
Six River Basins: Mawa-Ratuwa, Bakraha, Lakhandehi, East Rapti, West Rapti, and Mohana-Khutia are included.
Cost & Timeline: Running from 2022 to 2028, the flood warning system portion involves an investment of approximately USD 7.54 million.
Round-the-Clock Monitoring: Continuous flood forecasting and warning services are scheduled from mid-May to mid-October during the monsoon season.
GLOF Mitigation Project: Between 2026 and 2033, water levels in four high-risk glacial lakes will be lowered at an estimated cost of USD 49.9 million.
Selected Glacial Lakes: Thulagi (Manang), Lower Barun (Sankhuwasabha), Lumding Tsho, and Hongu-2 (Solukhumbu).
Modern Technology: Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology will expand the use of AI, Machine Learning, and high-performance computing to improve forecast accuracy.
Past Experience: Nepal previously successfully lowered water levels at Tsho Rolpa and Imja glacial lakes. Similar risk-reduction measures will be used in the new initiative.