Summary:
Nepal is currently battling two extreme weather problems simultaneously:

Dry Spell in Tarai:

• The southern Tarai region is experiencing a prolonged dry spell during mid-monsoon, severely affecting farmers.
• Hundreds of farmers can’t plant paddy due to lack of rainfall and irrigation issues.
• Irrigation canals like the Narayani system are clogged with river sediments and need urgent clearing.
• Local authorities struggle with stolen equipment and inadequate infrastructure.
• The drought has forced the Madhesh provincial government to declare the entire province drought-hit and supply drinking water by tanker trucks.
• This situation threatens food production and the region’s economy.

Floods and Landslides in Mountains and Hills:

• Mountainous regions are facing erratic weather with sudden floods and landslides, causing deaths and injuries.
• Glacial lake outbursts have triggered floods, notably the Bhotekoshi flood from a supraglacial lake previously unnoticed in Tibet.
• The unpredictable river rises and floods catch locals off guard.
• Infrastructure damage worth billions of rupees reported due to floods and landslides.

Broader Climate Context

• Nepal is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, facing increasing extreme weather events like glacial lake outbursts, droughts, and abnormal temperature rises.
• The country’s temperature is rising faster than the global average, with maximum temperatures increasing by 0.05°C per year.
• Despite these challenges, Nepal lacks adequate infrastructure and coordinated systems to handle such climate crises effectively.

Calls for Action

Experts stress that Nepal must develop better coordinated government responses and infrastructure to tackle climate challenges. The current situation, especially in Tarai, is an emergency affecting food security and livelihoods.

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