Nepalese officials have acknowledged that an early flood warning system designed to protect thousands of people in the Everest region may no longer be operational, after years of neglect left it in disrepair. The system, supported by the UN, was installed as part of a $3.5 million project to drain the dangerous Imja glacial lake in 2016. Since then, villagers say, no maintenance has been carried out: siren towers have rusted, batteries have been stolen, and satellite data reception remains unreliable.
The Imja lake, located at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, was reduced in depth by 3.5 meters a decade ago. However, scientists warn that climate change is causing Himalayan glaciers to melt rapidly, expanding glacial lakes and increasing the risk of catastrophic floods that could sweep away downstream settlements, trekking routes, and bridges.
Local Sherpa communities say they were promised annual inspections, but none have occurred. "Going by the state of the siren towers, we don't expect to get any flood warning from them even when Imja lake bursts out," said Ang Nuru Sherpa, chairman of a buffer zone area adjoining Sagarmatha national park. Jangbu Sherpa, a resident of Chhukung—the first village in the lake's flood path—added that officials from Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) never visit, despite repeated requests.
The risk extends beyond the roughly 60,000 tourists, trekkers, and climbers who visit the region annually, especially during peak season in spring. Tshering Sherpa, CEO of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, noted that six villages are vulnerable.
Officials admit the system's shortcomings. Niraj Pradhananga, a senior meteorologist at DHM, said the government has failed to allocate a budget for maintenance. Suggestions to have hydro-power providers cover costs have not materialized. "As a result, we cannot say for sure if the early warning sirens work or they don't," he told the BBC.
Acting Director General Archana Shrestha of DHM acknowledged that funds were redirected to upgrade a warning system for another glacial lake. "That took all our resources and time, now we will move our attention to Imja lake," she said, adding that rule changes are being made to ensure staff have the budget and time to maintain remote stations.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme has received a $36 million grant to replicate the Imja drainage project at four other sites in Nepal. Monica Upadhyay, head of communication for UNDP Nepal, said lessons from Imja have informed the new projects, with a stronger emphasis on long-term sustainability through institutional arrangements and dedicated financing.
Despite the pledges, local communities feel abandoned. Nawang Thome Sherpa, head of a local body in Phakding, one of the vulnerable villages downstream, said: "For us in the Khumbu region, it has just been an eyewash. They spent millions of dollars in the name of protecting us, but we remain at risk."