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From Disaster to Resilience: Developing Smart Settlements in the Himalayas

Author

Listed:
  • Bhattarai, Keshav
  • Adhikari, Ambika P.

    (Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu, Nepal)

Abstract

Nepal’s catastrophic 26 August 2026 Bhote Koshi–Trishuli flood should be understood not only as a humanitarian tragedy but also as a potentially major turning point in updating national settlement and reconstruction policy. Engineers and scientists have described the floods as a glacier–bedrock collapse that triggered an ice-rock avalanche and debris flow. As per the live updates on September 7, 2026, the total death toll was 1,355, and 4,996 people were missing (The Hindu, 2026). Indian and Nepali rescuers worked urgently to locate and rescue people buried under hydropower tunnels, buildings, mud, and landslide debris. UN News reported on September 3, 2026, that more than 22,000 children in the flood-affected region lacked safe drinking water (UN News, 2026). UNICEF also estimated that at least 19 schools had been damaged and that more than 10,000 school-age children urgently needed safe learning spaces (UN News, 2026). Coming just one year after the July 2025 flood in the same transboundary Lhende–Rasuwagadhi river system, this disaster underscores the risks of rebuilding vulnerable settlements and infrastructure in repeatedly exposed corridors. In the aftermath of this disaster, this article proposes Smart Settlement Guidelines for Nepal, informed by evidence on cryosphere-related hazards and disaster risks that resilient infrastructure, managed relocation, and disaster-resilient building practices can mitigate. Smart settlements should also account for Nepal’s remittance-dependent economy, local and imported food systems, and governance arrangements across local, provincial, and federal levels. Rather than advocating wholesale relocation of affected populations, the article advances a risk-differentiated approach: prohibiting new settlements in scientifically identified high-risk (red) zones, retrofitting viable communities, expanding river and slope buffers, and facilitating voluntary, rights-based relocation where residual risks remain unacceptable. Recognizing that disaster-related destruction does not extinguish property rights, relocation should be underpinned by fair compensation, land swaps, transferable development rights, and livelihood restoration.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhattarai, Keshav & Adhikari, Ambika P., 2026. "From Disaster to Resilience: Developing Smart Settlements in the Himalayas," SocArXiv 5z826_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:5z826_v1
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/5z826_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bhattarai, Keshav & Adhikari, Ambika P., 2022. "Minimizing Surface Run-off, Improving Underground Water Recharging, and On-site Rain Harvesting in the Kathmandu Valley," SocArXiv tqfns, Center for Open Science.
    2. Taigang Zhang & Weicai Wang & Baosheng An & Lele Wei, 2023. "Enhanced glacial lake activity threatens numerous communities and infrastructure in the Third Pole," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. repec:osf:socarx:tqfns_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Caroline Taylor & Tom R. Robinson & Stuart Dunning & J. Rachel Carr & Matthew Westoby, 2023. "Glacial lake outburst floods threaten millions globally," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Rayees Ahmed & Lydia Sam & Anshuman Bhardwaj & Anil V. Kulkarni & Shintaro Yamasaki, 2026. "Increasing global threat of outburst floods from overlooked small alpine lakes," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 9(9), pages 1307-1316, September.
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