States, Union Territories told to monitor glacial lakes, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting with Himalayan States and Union Territories to review preparedness for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches.
• The meeting emphasized proactive monitoring, risk-informed planning, and stronger early warning systems.
• The review was prompted by recent flash floods in Nepal.
• Continuous surveillance of vulnerable glacial lakes and avalanche-prone regions was stressed, particularly during high-risk periods.
• The need for close coordination among State agencies, district administrations, and scientific institutions for timely action was highlighted.

Detailed Insights:

• The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) spans thirteen states and union territories, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, all vulnerable to such disasters.
• The recent Nepal flash floods, which occurred on August 26, 2026, were triggered by a glacier collapse and landslide, causing significant destruction and casualties.
• Climate change is linked to the increased frequency and severity of such events due to accelerated glacial melting and unstable moraine dams.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued comprehensive guidelines on the management of GLOFs in October 2020, focusing on risk reduction through identification, structural measures, and early warning mechanisms.
• The NDMA also oversees the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Mitigation Project (NGRMP), implemented in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
• Himachal Pradesh has identified 67 vulnerable glacial lakes and is working to establish Early Warning Systems (EWS) for four of the most critical ones.
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) actively monitors 902 glacial lakes and water bodies to detect changes in their water spread areas.
• The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and C-DAC are also involved, with C-DAC having deployed India's first GLOF Early Warning System in Sikkim.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Sudden release of large volumes of water from a glacial lake due to the failure of its natural dam, often composed of ice or moraine.
• Snow Avalanches: Rapid downslope movement of a mass of snow, ice, and debris, typically occurring in mountainous regions due to unstable snowpacks, heavy snowfall, or temperature changes.
• Early Warning Systems (EWS): Integrated systems that monitor environmental conditions, predict hazards, and disseminate timely alerts to at-risk populations and authorities for preparedness and response.