Thame Valley glacial lake outburst flood 2024: Causes, impacts and future risks

This study aims to inform effective disaster management and mitigation strategies for reducing the long-term threats posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The Thame Valley Nepal GLOF on August 16, 2024, caused widespread destruction—damaging homes, schools, health facilities, and bridges, displacing 135 people, and destabilising the valley further.

In response, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in collaboration with ICIMOD, conducted a field investigation to examine the causes, assess damage, and identify future risks. The event underscores the extreme vulnerability of Thame Valley to GLOFs and the urgent need for integrated, long-term disaster risk management.