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

29 Jul 2015 News
Hands-on training on Flood Early Warning System

A five-day regional hands-on training on community-based flood early warning system (CB-FEWS) was organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 8-12 June ...

13 Dec 2016 News
Mountain Festival Held in Pokhara to Mark International Mountain Day

ICIMOD and others marked International Mountain Day 2016 in Pokhara at the third annual Mountain Festival. The Nepal Mountaineering Association ...

19 Feb 2015 News
HICAP’s Work on Gender Applauded at CRM Expert Working Group Meeting

The study focused on the multiple drivers of change impacting women in Nepal and ...

11 Jun 2018 REDD+
India’s first State REDD+ Action Plan in the making

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has tried to build capacity to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest ...

12 Jul 2016 Atmosphere Initiative
Understanding Black Carbon Impact on Glaciers

In April 2016 and team of glaciologists and experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) and partner ...

12 Jul 2016 News
HIMAP Author Writeshop Held

HIMAP Author Writeshop Held Hindu Kush Himalayas Monitoring and Assessment Program’s (HIMAP) Coordinating Lead Authors' Writeshop was organised by the ...

A Commitment to Implement Water Use Master Plans in Saptari, Nepal

Participation of the private sector has opened up avenues for joint collaboration with local authorities for sustainable WUMP schemes and ...

1 Mar 2015 News
Second Workshop on Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP)

Perceiving Drivers of Change as the key global issues and trends driving change in the HKH Region, International Centre for ...