Back to news
18 May 2015 | News

ICIMOD evaluates the hazards of upper Langtang Valley

1 min Read

70% Complete
Langtang village after the avalanche in 2015. Photo: ICIMOD archive

ICIMOD has spent the past three weeks collaborating with an international team of scientists to evaluate the hazards that contributed to Langtang Valley’s post-earthquake disaster on 25 April 2015, and are working to identify the area’s current conditions and potential future hazards.

Using eyewitness accounts and images obtained from Google Earth and helicopter, the team has drafted an initial report. The report suggests that the 25 April 2015 earthquake triggered part of a hanging glacier in the Langtang Lirung and Langtang II Mountains above the valley to become unhinged and collide into the mountain below, prompting an avalanche of snow, ice, and rock material. In addition, analysis also suggests that a destructive pressure wave accompanied the avalanche in certain parts of the valley. As a result, the valley’s eight highest villages – Thyangshyup, Tsarding, Chamki, Gumba, Langtang, Mundu, Singdum, and Kyangjing – were damaged or completely destroyed.

As aftershocks continue and the monsoon season begins, the possibility of more avalanches and landslides remains. The ICIMOD team will continue to monitor the conditions of the upper Langtang Valley as post-earthquake recovery gets underway.

Downloads

Villages in Langtang Valley destroyed by landslides and pressure waves during the 25 April 2015 earthquake
 

Langtang village before the avalanche in 2015
Langtang village before the avalanche in 2015. Photo: ICIMOD archive
Langtang village before the avalanche in 2015
Langtang village after the avalanche in 2015. Photo: ICIMOD archive

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

related contents

Continue exploring this topic

30 Jan 2017 Gender in Koshi
The road ahead for Nepal’s water management

In the Lohajar VDC of Saptari district, in Nepal’s floodplains, Gopal Khatiwada plays a key role in developing and implementing ...

16 Aug 2017 News
Private Sector Engagement for Climate Action in Pakistan

A joint event titled “Working Together for Sustainable Mountain Development: Private Sector Engagement for Climate Action in Pakistan” was organized ...

16 Dec 2013 News
White paper launched on COP 19 sidelines

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) supported the launch of the Association of International Research ...

29 Mar 2016 Gender in Koshi
Mainstreaming Gender and Livelihoods into Water Management

Linking livelihoods and gender issues in the Koshi river basin can improve water resource management, was the key message of ...

14 Sep 2015 News
Experts visit WUMP districts to better understand water availability and use

ICIMOD and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal initiated a collaborative action research to develop local Water Use Master Plans (WUMP) for the Koshi ...

27 Oct 2016 News
Joint Field Expedition to Thana Glacier in Bhutan

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Cryosphere Initiative and Department of Hydro Met Services (DHMS) in ...

19 Dec 2016 News
ICIMOD partner receives award for Resilient Mountain Village

The Center for Environment and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED) received the Adaptation at Scale Prize, Protsahan ...

10 local solutions for global impact: New book launched

Mountain regions are home to about 15% of the world’s population. Communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya ...