Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has proposed setting up a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China after severe flash floods struck the Himalayan region. Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in his first address, Shah said rising temperatures are putting increasing pressure on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. He suggested that the three countries share satellite data, technical knowledge and early warning information to improve disaster preparedness. He also said melting permafrost is making mountain slopes beneath glaciers unstable, raising the risk of ice and rock avalanches, floods, landslides and other related disasters. According to Shah, the recent floods caused extensive damage on both sides of the Nepal China border, while floodwaters also moved downstream towards India.
Shah thanked India and other countries for providing support to Nepal after the disaster. The country experienced major flash floods on August 26 following an ice and rock avalanche near the Nepal Tibet border. The floods caused widespread destruction in northern and central Nepal. The disaster has so far claimed 1,452 lives, while between 4,700 and 6,000 people are still reported missing.