The footage of the avalanche that triggered devastating floods along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers near the China-Nepal border on August 26 is deeply sobering. The road, bridges, customs, and immigration office with China, and the entire settlement and traditional bazaar along the riverbank, were wiped out in a moment.
In the wake of the flood, the Nepali government deployed security forces, including the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, as first responders. Nepal has put more than 20,000 security personal into responding to the disaster, possibly the largest such deployment since the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake. The collapse of local and provincial governments and the inaccessibility of flood-affected areas prompted the government to rely on the security forces at a desperate moment.
The use of security forces in disaster response is not new in Nepal. Security forces often get involved, ranging from rescue and relief operations to rehabilitation activities. The Nepali Constitution 2015 (2072 BS) enshrined a provision for deploying the military in national crises arising from disasters and development projects. The National Security Policy (2016) also considers climate change and the environment as part of the national interest.
But the ad hoc stretching of the security forces into disaster response can result in the security forces themselves being increasingly exposed to vulnerabilities and capacity constraints amid the climate crisis in Nepal. As environmental disasters become more frequent and severe in the Himalayan region, the recent flood must be an important case study in the growing complexity of the military’s engagement in disaster governance and preparedness.
The scale and intensity of the recent flood was unimaginable and it is becoming evident that there were significant casualties among security forces. A week since the incident, and a total of 85 security force members – encompassing 45 from the Nepal Army, 28 from the Nepal Police, and 13 from the Armed Police Force – are still unaccounted for.
The police forces went missing while on duty near the border, customs area, and river corridor. Some Nepal police personnel went missing due to a sudden surge in flooding while circulating a notice to downstream communities. Similarly, Nepal army personnel were on duty at Langtang National Park and were stationed at multiple hydropower projects. Armed police forces went missing from a border post. In addition, three police posts in Timure, Rasuwagadhi, and Syafrubesi were damaged or swept away.
The unique circumstances of the flood gave security personnel very little time to respond. The absence of an early warning system and the lack of any cross-border disaster communication made the situation even more complicated.
Rescue operations are still ongoing, particularly in areas with multiple hydropower tunnels, such as Upper Trishuli-1, Rasuwagadhi Hydropower, Chilime Hydropower, Langtang Khola, and Upper Trishuli-3A. Hundreds of workers are believed to be trapped in these tunnels. As the days pass, families of those trapped and even security personnel are increasingly frustrated. Some tunnel rescue operations have been halted due to a lack of progress and the rescue team’s inability to advance. The security forces are exploring their options, including conducting a controlled blast to clear debris blocking the tunnel.
Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah, speaking at parliament on September 2, said that “tunnels present a very distinct problem, they are filled with mud, debris, and floodwater. Clearing them requires specialized skills that none of the countries, including Nepal, have had. Though we have mobilized at short notice, and progress depends on weather and drier conditions.” He added that the security forces should be commended for their efforts, made under various constraints.
Footage of Nepal Army personnel laboring and displaying their willingness to risk their own lives in a tunnel operation has drawn attention. The security forces have been widely praised for their courage and bravery. But an emerging consensus has made it clear that the Nepali government, including the Nepal Army, lacks the advanced expertise, technology, and equipment for effective tunnel rescue operations. Bravery is not a substitute for preparedness, equipment, and expertise.
The Nepali government has sought international assistance in specific areas, including tunnel rescues and forensic work, and reached out to countries like India, China, and South Korea for critical equipment and technology. This, however, highlights Nepal’s disaster vulnerabilities and preparedness deficits.
The recent flood reiterates the changing environmental security landscape in the Himalayan region. The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has identified dozens of potentially dangerous glacier lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region; the recent floods may be less of an outlier and more of a warning.
The climate crisis, and the use of security forces in response to climate-driven disasters, decisively alters the strategy, function and operating environment of military institutions. The question here is not whether the military should be involved in disaster response, but how the military itself is responding, adapting, and transforming amid the climate crisis. This is particularly important in Nepal, where the military institution is deeply embedded in disaster response and preparedness already.
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