New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- The catastrophic glacial flood that struck Nepal on 26 August 2026, following a glacier and rock collapse near the Nepal-China border, is a stark reminder of the growing financial impact of natural catastrophes across the Himalayan region. Torrents of water, rocks, mud and debris caused extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges and critical hydropower infrastructure, with at least 11 hydropower projects reporting significant damage. More than 1,300 deaths have been reported, thousands remain missing, and more than 84,000 people have been affected.

Preliminary estimates put Nepal's direct physical economic losses at around US$2.56 billion (approximately Rs.24,200 crore), while the broader reconstruction and recovery...