KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBE 2 Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa was linked to climate change and called for a stronger international response to growing climate risks in the Himalayas. In a social media post on Tuesday, Shah said the rise in Himalayan temperatures by 1.8 degrees Celsius had contributed to the disaster. 'There is no doubt that this disaster has occurred due to climate change. Climate change is a global contribution and its response is also a global responsibility,' he said. Shah said experts had described the incident as one of the biggest disasters in the Himalayan region caused by an avalanche of snow and rock, highlighting the growing risks posed by climate change. According to the Prime Minister, experts believe a large mass of glacier may have fallen from a great height, triggering a massive flood. The flood then gained momentum as it moved down from the high Himalayas, causing widespread destruction downstream. He said the disaster underscored the need for Nepal to raise the issue of climate-induced disasters in the Himalayas more strongly before the international community. Shah said the government had shifted its focus from search, rescue and relief to rehabilitation, while continuing medical treatment, counselling and other support for affected communities. Relief distribution is also continuing in an organised manner. A total of 2,653 people are currently sheltered in 19 temporary shelters in Nuwakot, including survivors displaced from Rasuwa, he said.