Highlighting the Imja threat KATHMANDU: The Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 - Beat the GLOF Action Run and Khumbu Festival, an event to highlight the threats being faced by Mount Everest due to climate change will be organised by Initiatives for the Development and Eco Action Support (iDEAS) on June 18 and 19 at the Khumbu region. The major focus of the event is to grab attention of local, national and international community about the fast swelling glacial lake Imja that is keeping the entire Khumbu region at the risk of peril. The first day of the event will be marked by Beat the GLOF Action Run. This running event will start from the source of Imja Lake and cover the mountain trails and villages of Khumbu region ending at the Khumgunj School. Dawa Steven Sherpa, chief coordinator of iDEAS said, “This event silently symbolises the fact that even the fastest runners won’t be able to run away from the rage of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). And there is an immense need to tackle this danger.” Khumbu festival, a cultural event, will be held on the last day. Khumbu region, the most popular destinations of mountaineers from all over the world, is facing the danger of being swept away if Imja bursts. Imja Lake is located at an altitude of 16,433ft and south of Mt Everest at a distance of 50 km from Lukla airport and this is the major trekking route to the Mt Everest. This lake is formed as a result of rapid melting of the glacier in the southern side of Mt Everest. Sherpa, who has ascended the peak of Mt Everest two times claimed, “We are attempting to show that the local community of Everest area is aware of the threats that climate change has brought to the mountains of the Nepal. But other people are indifferent to this alarming problem and through this event we want them to wake up to this threat.”