Nepal, Sept. 4 -- In just 10 years, commercial drones have become indispensable tools across many industries and governments, creating well-paying jobs and new lines of business around the world. This trend is unfolding right now in Nepal, where a variety of drones are being used to support the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.

The global drone industry is expected to exceed $150 billion by the end of the decade. Nepal's digital and engineering talent and entrepreneurial spirit make it well suited to become part of this expanding market. Nepal is not new to this technology. Following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, drones were used for damage assessment, heritage documentation, landslide mapping and reconstruction planning. The drones today are ...