In an interview, Lobsang Sangay, the former Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, raised serious concerns over the fallout from recent Himalayan flash floods affecting Tibet. He stated, “The Chinese government is definitely hiding something,” highlighting that Beijing shut down internet communications in the region after the initial 24 hours and barred foreign journalists, United Nations inspectors, and hydro experts from inspecting the disaster-struck zones. Sangay estimated that at least over 100 Tibetans have died in the tragedy. He blamed extensive Chinese state infrastructure projects, including large-scale road drilling, railway construction, and dry ports, for destabilizing the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and triggering glacier breaks. Pointing out that Tibet serves as the water tower of Asia, Sangay noted Beijing’s refusal to sign the UN Convention on water sharing and urged downstream countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh to demand accountability for environmental exploitation.
