Climate-induced permafrost degradation and glacier retreat are destabilizing steep mountain slopes, especially in High Mountain Asia (HMA), where complex terrain and rapid cryospheric change are increasing the likelihood of large rock and ice avalanches (RIAs) and their cascading processes. These events threaten both high-altitude communities and rapidly expanding infrastructure networks. Yet, a systematic understanding of RIA risk across HMA remains limited, particularly in terms of how hazard, exposure, and vulnerability interact to shape outcomes.

This thesis aims to address this gap by integrating multi-source datasets and geospatial modeling to assess RIA-induced cascading hazards and their implications for critical infrastructure in HMA. The work is structured around three interrelated components that reflect the disaster risk framework: hazard processes, infrastructure exposure, and community vulnerability.

By linking physical hazard processes with infrastructure exposure and vulnerability dynamics, this research offers an integrated perspective on cryospheric hazard risk in HMA and beyond. The findings highlight the urgent need for multi-dimensional risk assessments that move beyond deterministic climate narratives and instead address the coupled physical and societal drivers of glacier disasters. Such integration is essential to anticipate future risks and guide the development of resilient infrastructure in high mountain regions.