Shimla, Aug. 30 -- In the middle of the monsoon season, when the threat of natural disasters looms large over the state, Himachal Pradesh has stepped up its monitoring of 67 vulnerable glacier lakes, most of which are located in the high-altitude mountains.
The heightened surveillance comes in the wake of an unprecedented spate of flash floods and glacier-related disasters in Nepal, which left large parts of the country devastated and once again underscored the growing risks posed by glacial lakes and rapidly changing weather patterns in the Himalayan region.
With Himachal Pradesh also home to numerous glacial lakes and vulnerable mountain settlements, authorities are keeping a close watch on water levels, weather conditions and other early warning indicators to detect any signs of a potential glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) or other disaster.
The monitoring assumes particular significance during the monsoon, when intense rainfall, cloudbursts and sudden changes in temperature can destabilise high-altitude terrain and increase the risk of flash floods and landslides.
Officials say the exercise is aimed at strengthening preparedness and ensuring that timely alerts can be issued to communities living downstream of vulnerable lakes and river valleys, where even a sudden breach can trigger devastating floods. Says Puspinder Rana, Special secretary, state Disaster Management Authority " Himachal Pradesh has identified 67 vulnerable glacial lakes which pose threat of disasters. The government is preparing to set-up an early warning systems for four of the most vulnerable lakes in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, both tribal district bordering Chinese occupied Tibet region"
Rana said the state was monitoring these lakes through satellite-based observations and other available data. The number is certainly a matter of concern.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.