LANGMOCHE

 

Event description

 

On August 4, 1985, a large ice avalanche (150`000 m<sup>3</sup>) overran the Langmoche Glacier and impacted the lake Dig Tsho. A wave was generated, which overtopped the moraine dam. Five people were killed and the destruction of a newly built hydroelectric power plant, 14 bridges, about 30 houses, and many hectares of agricultural land as well as a heavily damaged trail network, resulted from 6 Mio m<sup>3</sup> water being released. Peak discharge was estimated to be 1`600 m³/s. The damage costs were estimated at 1.5 Mio US $.

 

Damage

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the damage to cultivated land, property, and vegetation was severe, 30 houses, 14 bridges between Langmoche Valley and Jubing, a nearly complete small hydro-electricity powerplant was completely destroyed, five people were killed. The damage costs were estimated at 1.5 Mio US $.

 

Data source

 

Vuichard, D., Zimmermann, M. (1986): The Langmoche flash-flood, Khumbu Himal, Nepal. Mountain Research and Development, 6 (1), 90 - 94.

 

 

Remarks

 

People of the Kumbu area waited many years for promised electrical power as a partial substitute for fuelwood. This will remain hypothetical with the destruction of the Hydel Project.The destruction of cultivable level land ist one of the severest consequences of the event, as it may have deprived communities of their subsistence base.