As of now no direct causal link has been established between global warming and the collapse on August 26 of a 600 metre section of the Langtang Lirung peak of the Langtang Himal mountains in Nepal, close to the Tibetan border. These mountains have glaciers which are melting because of global warming. The slope failure at a height of over 5000 metres led to a break in the mountains and a collapse of the glacier situated over it. This colossal amount of rock and ice fell about 1200 metres on to a non-glaciated valley through which the Lhende Khola river runs. The fall generated a seismic wave of 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale. The rocks, ice, water and debris moved along the river with ever increasing speed and then to lower river valleys causing devastating floods which swept everything in their path. As I write these lines media reports indicate that the death toll has reached 1252 and several thousands are missing. 

While scientists will determine the exact cause of this terrible slope failure, the fact of the hugely negative impact of climate change due to global warming cannot be denied. This is leading to the melting of polar ice and of glaciers. The Hindukush-Himalayan region contains the largest amount of glacial ice after the polar regions. This is a serious matter not only for the Himalayan countries but also for those in South Asia and China. It is leading to........

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