Geography · 3 Sep 2026

NDRRMA Nepal glacial collapse

Consider the following statements:

  1. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) is Nepal's apex disaster management body, established in 2019 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  2. The August 2026 glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border was triggered by an earthquake in the region.
  3. The 2021 Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand was caused by a chunk of hanging glacier detaching from the Nanda Devi massif and crashing into the Rishiganga river.
A1 only
B3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 3 Sep 2026
About this question

Why in news

A massive glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered catastrophic flash floods on the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers in late August 2026, killing over 1,000 people, drawing comparisons to the 2021 Chamoli disaster.

Why for UPSC

UPSC frequently tests the distinction between similar-looking hazard mechanisms (glacial collapse generating a seismic signal vs. an actual earthquake) rather than the headline event itself - exactly the kind of conceptual nuance this question probes.

Prelims summary

A glacial/permafrost collapse can generate its own seismic signature without any tectonic earthquake trigger - this mechanism links the 2021 Chamoli (Nanda Devi/Rishiganga) disaster and the 2026 Nepal (Bhotekoshi-Trishuli) disaster, both of which struck hydropower infrastructure in narrow Himalayan gorges.

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