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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama expressed sadness over the devastating floods in Nepal's Rasuwa region and Kyirong in Tibet, which resulted in loss of life and extensive structural damage.
"I am saddened to learn of the devastating floods in the Rasuwa region of Nepal and Kyirong in Tibet, resulting in loss of life and heavy structural damage. I pray for all those who have lost their lives, and offer my sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and to all those affected by this tragedy," the Dalai Lama said. He said the region had witnessed calamities in the past as well and called them symptoms of deeper underlying causes, including climate change and other factors. "Since this region has seen calamities in the past as well, these are certainly symptoms of a deeper underlying cause -- whether climate change or other factors. I hope that appropriate follow-up measures will be taken, wherever possible, to help ensure that such disasters do not recur," he added. Tibetan political leader in exile Penpa Tsering meanwhile expressed concern over the disaster along the Nepal-Tibet border, saying the incident highlights the fragile ecology of the Himalayan region and could have wider consequences for downstream countries. Sikyong and President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering told ANI that the disaster occurred near Kerung, a major crossing point between Nepal and Tibet, where customs and police personnel, tourists and Indian pilgrims were present. According to Tsering, a small Tibetan community on the Nepal side was also affected, with some people reportedly killed, others missing, and some managing to escape by climbing into the mountains. "We were informed that some of them have died, some are missing, while some managed to climb up the mountains to save themselves. Three smaller settlements have been affected. We are still studying the situation to get more input," Tsering said. Tsering said the incident demonstrated the vulnerability of the Himalayan ecosystem and its potential consequences for countries downstream. "It all shows that the Himalayan region has a very, very fragile ecology and it has a lot of consequences for downstream countries," he said. Referring to the sudden flow of water, Tsering said it did not appear to be normal rainwater and suggested that melting ice or accumulated water could have played a role. "If you look at the flow of water yesterday, it's not normal rainwater. It is definitely something that got stocked up because of melting of ice," he said. Tsering also drew a comparison with the Barichu incident of 2007-08, which he said had affected communities downstream in India. "As of my understanding, it's more like a repeat of Barichu that happened in 2007-08, which also killed many people on the Indian side downstream," he said. Calling the disaster a "wake-up call" for the entire region, Tsering said the incident should prompt governments to seriously consider the consequences of environmental degradation in the Himalayas. "I think it is a wake-up call for everybody in the region, not just the Tibetans," he said. Describing Tibet as the "Water Tower of Asia" and the "Third Pole", Tsering stressed that developments in Tibet's fragile environment have implications far beyond the plateau. "Tibet is the highest and the largest plateau on Earth, and it is surrounded by snow mountain ranges from all sides. People call it the Water Tower of Asia and also the Third Pole. Tibet's ecology has a lot of consequences for the whole region," he said. He added that governments across the region should start considering the wider implications of failing to protect the Himalayan environment and maintain its fragile ecology. (ANI)
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