Nepal, Sept. 1 -- News about the colossal loss after the August 26 flood in the Bhotekoshi/Trishuli in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and other districts is still emerging. The data received so far indicates that no flood occurring in any single river basin has caused so much damage in the living memory of Nepal. The preliminary estimate of the loss given by the finance minister Swarnim Wagle is $5 billion. Geologists and climate scientists are characterising the whole phenomenon as an ice-and-rock avalanche-glacial surge flood. Some are using 'Himalayan Tsunami' to characterise the current devastation.

The stories of rising temperatures, receding snow and melting glaciers, or glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have been reported in Nepal, India, Pak...