AI Alerts Nepal as Landslides Threaten

A New Lifeline for Nepal’s Villages

Every dawn, Bina Tamang leaves her modest home and checks a rain gauge, part of a system that may save dozens of lives. Her community, nestled in the high hills of Kimtang village, faces relentless landslides, a danger that grows sharper with climate change.

How a Simple Gauge Became an AI Watchtower

• Daily Reads – Tamang sends photos of the gauge’s water level to experts in Kathmandu, a five‑hour drive.
• Satellite Vision – The system combines local data with satellite imagery to spot ground movement.
• AI Forecasts – An algorithm, developed by University of Melbourne researchers, predicts slides weeks ahead.

Why Nepal Is Especially At Risk

As a mountainous nation, Nepal is “highly prone” to slides. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority says that unstable geology, shifting rainfall, and poorly planned development amplify vulnerability.

Climate change fuels the problem: traditional snowfall is replaced by rain, wildfires trigger soil erosion, and monsoon storms become deadlier.

The Promise of the SAFE‑RISCCS Platform

The platform, named SAFE‑RISCCS (Spatiotemporal Analytics, Forecasting and Estimation of Risks from Climate Change Systems), was crafted by Antoinette Tordesillas and partners across Nepal, Britain, and Italy.

• Low Cost, High Impact – The tool is affordable yet powerful.
• Scientifically Informed, Locally Owned – It blends global research with Nepal’s unique terrain.
• Proven Abroad – Similar systems already work in the United States and China.

Pilot Areas and Community Involvement

Two high‑risk sites—Kimtang in Nuwakot district and Jyotinagar in Dhading district—are under active testing. Sanjar Devkota, a technical adviser, compares Tamang’s data against slide thresholds and plans to generate AI‑driven alerts once a long dataset is built.

The ultimate aim: a continuously updated risk map that helps decision makers and residents prepare, evacuate, and avert disasters.

Progress and Challenges Ahead

While Nepal has improved flood readiness—installing 200 sirens along major rivers—landslide prediction remains more complex. Experts emphasize that modern technologies are essential if the country hopes to reduce monsoon fatalities.

With community participation and advances in AI, this early warning system could mark a turning point, turning hope into tangible safety for Nepal’s hillside communities.