The devastating flash flood that struck Nepal last Wednesday once again demonstrated how helpless human beings are in the face of nature’s power, and how even a minor shortfall in preparedness in the face of a natural disaster can lead to catastrophic consequences.
The flash flood rushing down from the mountains devastated village after village. According to the latest reports, the death toll in Nepal and Tibet combined has exceeded 200, while more than 1,000 people are reportedly missing.
The entire world witnessed just how catastrophic this unprecedented flood was. Within a matter of mere seconds, the peaceful morning in Rasuwa turned into a nightmare.
In the Bhote Koshi basin, the water level suddenly rose rapidly, and a powerful current surged through the Bhote Koshi River toward the Trishuli river system.
Vast quantities of silt, rocks and debris carried along by the water swept away and destroyed everything in the blink of an eye. Scientists believe the disaster began with a major collapse of ice and rocks in the high mountainous areas. But the danger is not over yet.
There is a risk of a second wave of flooding. If that happens, its repercussions could extend beyond this region—something that is certainly not desirable.
Watching human settlements, roads, bridges and infrastructure disappear into the powerful current within moments naturally raises the question: even if disasters of this magnitude cannot be prevented, could the loss of life not be reduced to a considerable extent?
This is precisely where our greatest weakness lies—the lack of preparedness. What are we witnessing around the world today? At one end, raging wildfires; at the other, the fury of floods.
One region is turning into a desert because of drought, while another is being battered by bitterly cold weather. One country is being shaken by earthquakes, while another is being swept away by cyclones and storm surges.
What kind of world are we witnessing? The climate seems to be changing its character from one moment to the next.
The World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations have emphasized that, in this reality, early warnings and early action are no longer a luxury; rather, they are among the most important tools for saving lives.
Although the developed world has already been able to build preparedness frameworks accordingly, poorer countries continue to lag behind. Climate-vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh have strengthened their multidimensional early-warning systems through UN initiatives, but these measures are still not sufficient to deal with major natural disasters.
Therefore, having plans only on paper will not be enough. Areas vulnerable to flash floods, rising river levels, landslides and extreme rainfall must be identified, and automatic sensors, sirens, mobile alerts and locally volunteer-based rapid-response systems must be further strengthened there.
Once a warning is issued, it is essential to have answers prepared in advance to questions such as where people will go, who will evacuate them, and what alternatives will be available if emergency communications are disrupted.
For countries facing the climate crisis, it has now become essential to remain alert and closely monitor the measures being taken by the developed world to address climate change, as well as the messages being issued by climate organizations. Tourists visiting vulnerable regions should also keep themselves informed of the latest weather updates.
We must put an end to the self-deception of indiscriminately damaging nature—cutting down mountains, obstructing the natural flow of rivers, destroying wetlands—and then blaming nature alone when disaster strikes.
There may be debate over whether nature takes revenge, but there can be no doubt that reckless and short-sighted human activities multiply the damage caused by disasters.
In other words, the disaster in Rasuwa is not merely news of Nepal’s grief; it is also a stern warning for all of us. The world is changing, and climate change is taking on new forms with increasing frequency.
In such a rapidly changing situation, the fundamental question is whether we are capable of preparing ourselves accordingly. We may not have the power to prevent natural disasters, but the responsibility to ensure that disasters do not turn into marches of death rests with us.