Study finds 300,000 people in Himalayan region at risk as tourism and housing development surges

A peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports found that built-up land in high-risk Himalayan zones across northern Nepal, south-eastern Tibet and India's Uttarakhand grew by about 45% between 2016 and 2023. In areas threatened by glacial lake flooding, development increased even faster, rising nearly 78%. Researchers say the true number of people under threat could be much higher, as the analysis covered only a specific territory and excluded neighboring areas facing similar risks. The findings come amid recent devastating floods in the region.