Nepal will begin draining four dangerous high-altitude glacial lakes this fiscal year. The move follows August floods that killed more than 1,400 people. Rescuers are still searching for over 5,000 missing people near the Nepal-China border.

The lakes are Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho and Hongu II. They sit between 4,050 and 5,483 metres above sea level. A 2020 UNDP and ICIMOD report ranked them among Nepal’s most dangerous glacial lakes.

Water will be drained through canals and gated structures into nearby rivers in a regulated way. Design work and detailed studies will start before July 2027. The full project could take up to six years and cost about 50 million dollars.

The Green Climate Fund, the UNDP and Nepal’s government will fund the work. Sensors will monitor the lakes. Flood forecasting and early-warning systems will protect downstream communities. Ten years ago, Nepal lowered the Imja lake near Mount Everest in a similar effort.