Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said on Saturday, September 19, 2026, that an early warning system for disasters will be implemented as a "top priority." Speaking at a Constitution Day programme at Tundikel Open Ground, Shah said special emphasis will be laid on risk reduction, preparedness, and response.

The announcement followed the Bhotekoshi flash floods, which were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. The floods devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, killing over 1,400 people and leaving over 6,000 missing as of Friday, September 18, 2026.

Experts believe many lives would have been saved if proper warning had been available.