According to the officials, Nepal has successfully drained an Himalayan glacier near Mount Everest, considering the risk of disastrous flood that might have put thousands of lives in danger.

According to the scientists, due to climate change, Himalayan glaciers have started to melt on an alarming rate, which has been resulted into creating huge glacial lakes which has the capability of destroy the whole mountain communities.

Reports said that Imja Tsho is the fastest-growing glacial lake in Nepal situated at the altitude of 5,010 meters (16,437 feet), just 10 kilometers south to the Mount Everest, world’s highest peak.

Last year, 7.8 magnitude earthquake had hit the Himalayan notion which has alarmed the risk of flash flood from the glacial lakes.

While speaking to a news agency, the Project Manager of the Community Based Flood and Glacial Lake Outburst Risk Reduction, Top Bahadur Khatri said, “Draining the lake was on the priority of the government because of its high risk. We have successfully mitigated a disaster right now.”

In the project of draining the lake, the Nepal Government worked along with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Reports said that 40 Army personnel along with 100 local high altitude workers worked since April in the project. They transported the equipment through airlifting as well as with the help of yaks.

Leader of the army team, Lieutenant Colonel Bharat Lal Shreshtha said, “"A 45-metres long tunnel was constructed to aid outflow of the lake downstream. We have also installed a mechanical gate to control the discharge.”

He further added, “Because of the wind, snow and thin air, we could work only two or three hours a day. It was a challenging task.”

According to the reports Nepal is a home to nearly 3,000 glaciers and the flood impact due to this particular glacier would have destroyed around 50,000 people living in the villages nearby as well as in the southern districts of the country.

By Prajakt