The first spell of monsoon this year wreaked havoc in several parts of the country in the third week of June. The most affected location is Melamchi in Sindhupalchowk district. A massive flood hit the Melamchi area following a torrential rainfall. It wreaked havoc not only at Melamchi Bazaar but also other low lying areas. Floodwaters of the Melamchi River inundated the nearby settlements and main market, displacing more than 100 families and causing destruction worth millions of rupees. Several persons died. Besides this, many resorts, farmlands, trout fish farms, two motorable bridges and six suspension bridges at Helambu and Melamchi Bazaar were swept away. Most significantly, the floodwater damaged the Melamchi Water Supply Project whose reoperation has become uncertain.

A similar disaster occurred last weekend again. Sudden flash floods washed away 17 houses and a bridge on Saturday. On Sunday, some experts have made an aerial on-site observation of the floods and landslides in Helambu and Melamchi areas under the coordination of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority. Following the inspection, they have warned that similar or even more dangerous flood may occur again in the area. They suggested relocating communities in lower river bank areas. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the area had not witnessed the scale of rainfall that could cause such a high level of disaster in June. Experts are of their views that the rainfall is not the sole reason behind the massive floods, inundations and landslides in the Melamchi area. The devastating earthquake of 2015 had triggered extensive damage and casualties in the district. The hilly land has been weakened by the earthquake and its hundreds of aftershocks.

That is why water seepage from the ground caused landslides even with the average rainfall. When the topography is weakened, we hear the news of even dry landslides in some areas. Some experts say that the Melamchi area experienced a new kind of natural disaster relating floods. The destruction brought the massive amount of debris in the area that was surprising for them. This could not happen only because of the rainfall or the locals’ encroachment of the Melamchi River. The question is what really triggered the landslides and the flow of massive muddy debris into the Melamchi area. After the 2015 earthquake, Sindhupalchowk has become one of the most vulnerable districts in terms of natural disaster. Its hills have been fragile and unstable.

One possible reason behind the landslides and the flow of massive sediments and boulder was the earthquake-weakened hills. Other reasons might be the construction of hill roads without considering their environmental impacts. It is true that many development projects began earthquake risk assessment after the 2015 earthquake. However, the prospects of flood and landslide risks near rivers in the hilly districts have been largely overlooked. So, studies on disaster threats faced by the areas near rivers and downstream areas are necessary. Those studies should focus on the geological changes brought about by the earthquake in the hill districts, including Sindhupalchowk. There could be several factors behind the Melamchi’s natural disaster. It is also possible that glacial lakes might have formed up in the mountains which can burst any time. Only comprehensive scientific study can ascertain whether glacial lake outburst was also involved in this year’s Melamchi floods.