Thousands at risk after multi-million dollar Everest flood warning system left to rust

Nepalese authorities revealed to the BBC that a critical flood alert network, intended to protect thousands of residents in the Everest area, is now in disrepair. This admission followed reports from local Sherpa communities that the UN-backed initiative had not been inspected for years since the Imja glacial lake was last drained in 2016. Without regular upkeep, siren towers have deteriorated, with some even suffering battery theft, according to community members.

The System’s Decline

The Imja lake, situated at over 5,000 meters above sea level, has remained stable since its drainage a decade ago, when it reached depths of nearly 150 meters in parts. The $3.5m project reduced the lake’s depth by 3.5 meters, but the warning system has since been neglected. Satellite data transmission, which sends real-time water level updates to trigger mobile alerts, has become inconsistent, officials from Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) noted.

“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, leader of the Chaurikharka buffer zone adjacent to Sagarmatha national park.

“The siren tower in our village is rusting and leaning and is set to fall any time because there has never been any maintenance,” he added.

“When the project was commissioned, we were told officials from the department of hydrology and meteorology will be visiting the region every year to inspect the system, but we see no one coming here,” stated Jangbu Sherpa in Chhukung, which would be the first village affected by a sudden Imja lake outburst.

Broader Vulnerabilities

Tshering Sherpa, head of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, highlighted the wider risks. “Six villages in the region are vulnerable to floods and so are the more than 60,000 tourists who visit our area annually,” he explained. The spring season, a peak for visitors, makes the threat more urgent as trekkers and climbers gather in the region.

Experts warn that rapid glacier melting, driven by climate change, is causing Himalayan glacial lakes to grow rapidly. This trend could lead to catastrophic floods, destroying downstream settlements, hiking paths, and bridges. A study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu found ice loss rates in the Hindu Kush Himalaya have doubled since 2000.

Government Oversight

Niraj Pradhananga, a senior meteorologist at the DHM, pointed to a lack of funding as the key issue. “The central government has not allocated any budget for the system’s upkeep,” he told the BBC. “Suggestions to cover costs through hydro-power providers downstream have not materialized.” Meanwhile, the hydro-met station responsible for transmitting lake data to Kathmandu has faced ongoing technical problems, delaying critical updates.

“We have not been receiving data [on lake levels and changes] as regularly as needed,” said Archana Shrestha, the DHM’s acting director general. “We are redirecting resources to address another glacial lake, but now we will focus on Imja. We’re also updating rules to ensure staff have adequate time, budget, and tools to maintain the system in this remote area.”