Addressing the UN General Assembly last week, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah delivered what the article describes as "a close warning for humanity", pointing to melting permafrost that is "fracturing mountain slopes beneath the glaciers and accelerating the risks of ice-rock avalanches, floods, landslides and other cascading hazards".
His remarks came as Nepal was still reeling from one of its worst natural disasters in history, when flash floods killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing.
"And when the next warning comes from the rooftop of the world, let us be ready to hear it, and ready to act," Mr Shah said.
The next warning came only days later. Heavy monsoon rain over the past four days has triggered another round of flash floods and landslides, with 27 confirmed deaths in Nepal and at least 62 in India's neighbouring states, according to state officials. Nepali authorities warned two-thirds of the country that it faced flash flood risk, with major river systems pushed to the brink.
In the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, rainfall from September 25 to 27 reached eight times the normal level, damaging more than a thousand homes.
Tenzin, a teacher in the remote northern Nepali town of Humde Manang who was hit by floods at midnight, said it was the first time her area had suffered such a large-scale disaster. "It was both terrifying and sad," she said. She blames climate change, unplanned development, poor preparation and deforestation, and argues industrialised nations should financially help countries like Nepal, which "contributes very little to global carbon emissions".[^1]
In the town of Jaljala, resident Gyaneshwar Acharya was less optimistic about rebuilding. "I cannot go back and live in my house due to floods," he said. "Our future looks very dark. Please help us."
The floods come after the International Court of Justice ruled in July 2025, in a historic and unanimous decision, that countries have a legal obligation to reduce emissions and are liable if they do not act. The ruling followed years of campaigning by a coalition of advocates from Pacific Island nations, who are at high risk from climate change.