NGT Reviews Threat Of Glacial Lakes Expansion In Himalayas, Seeks Report From Hydrology Institute
Glacial lakes form when glaciers start melting due to rising global temperatures and, if unstable, these lakes can burst, causing devastating floods downstream
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is examining the growing risks posed by the expansion of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region—a result of rapidly melting glaciers due to climate change. The tribunal has now asked the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) to submit a report within four weeks.
The tribunal took note of the potential threats of these lakes overflowing or bursting, which could lead to devastating impacts downstream. A major glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim had left a trail of destruction on October 3, 2023, also washing away a 1,200 MW Dam on Teesta river.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) informed the tribunal that it had conducted analysis of as many as 100 glacial lakes (more than 10 Ha) across India—42 in Sikkim, 15 in Ladakh, 15 in Jammu and Kashmir, and nine each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. Out of the total 100 lakes analysed, at least 34 are increasing, while 20 are decreasing, and there are about 67 dams along the flow path of these glacial lakes.
The CWC stated that it has also completed a structured risk index, factoring in variables such as lake size, rate of expansion, slope stability, and the vulnerability of downstream infrastructure. This will help in developing a structured approach to identify and rank Glacial Lakes based on their likelihood of failure and the potential damage they could cause in the event of GLOF.
The tribunal has directed NIH to submit its detailed suggestions within four weeks, and scheduled the hearing on October 16 to outline further steps.
Glacial lakes form when the vast sheet of glaciers starts melting and the melt water is accumulated in the glacial lakes. As the global temperatures rise and climate change intensifies, many of the glaciers have also begun to withdraw at a rapid rate, triggering the formation of numerous such glacial lakes which, if unstable, can send torrents of water downstream and wreak disastrous floods.
Environmental experts have also been demanding a thorough risk assessment of the existing hydel projects in the Himalayan states in view of the increasing risks. A stark reminder to the catastrophic Chamoli floods in 2021, Sikkim GLOF in October 2023 was a disaster foretold. Several studies in the past had pointed out the definite risk of a major dam breach due to the high probability of a glacial lake outburst (GLOF) in South Lhonak Lake—one of the largest and the fastest-growing lakes in the Teesta basin.
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
With Over 400,000 Hectares Burned, Spain Wildfires Mark Worst Season Since 2006
These fires have been classified as "operational level two," a designation indicating an immediate threat to nearby communities. Efforts to contain Spain's raging wildfires faced a major setback on Wednesday as strong winds continued to fuel the flames, despite a recent drop in temperatures. According to authorities, the wildfires have already scorched a record amount of land this year, reported AFP. Firefighters, supported by military units and water-dropping aircraft, were actively battling 21 blazes in the western part of the country. These fires have been classified as 'operational level two," a designation indicating an immediate threat to nearby communities, said Virginia Barcones, director general of emergency services. 'Temperatures have dropped, but strong gusts of wind continue to hinder firefighting efforts, and the lack of rain is not helping, though we hope that changes in the coming days," Barcones told reporters during a news conference. Weather officials predicted that winds would begin to ease later on Wednesday, and an expected rise in humidity levels could assist efforts to control the fires. Rain is also forecast in some of the fire-stricken regions on Thursday, offering hope for some much-needed relief. Spain had just emerged from a 16-day heatwave that ended on Monday, during which temperatures in many parts of the country soared above 40°C (104°F). The extreme heat helped ignite and spread wildfires that have, so far, claimed four lives. Dozens of villages have been evacuated as a precaution. Train services between Madrid and Galicia in the northwest, which were suspended on August 14 due to the fires, are set to resume, according to railway operator Adif, confirming that the tracks are now safe. Officials attribute many of the fires to lightning strikes during dry storms, though arson is also suspected in several cases. International assistance has poured in to support Spain's firefighting efforts. Aircraft from Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia have been deployed. Germany has sent 60 firefighters and 24 vehicles, while France has contributed 66 firefighters and 23 vehicles. Finland has dispatched a team of 26 firefighters. So far this year, nearly 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) have burned across Spain, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. This figure surpasses the previous record of 306,000 hectares in 2022, marking the worst wildfire season since records began in 2006. Scientists have warned that climate change is contributing to longer, more intense, and more frequent heatwaves globally. Reduced humidity in the air, vegetation, and soil makes it easier for fires to start and significantly harder to control them once they spread. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
U'khand sees 30% surge in disaster toll, deadliest in recent yrs
Dehradun: Uttarakhand has seen an over 30% rise in disaster-related casualties this year, making 2025 the deadliest in recent years even as the monsoon is far from over, according to data from the state emergency operation centre (SEOC). So far, 239 people have been affected—61 confirmed dead, 84 missing, and 94 injured. The toll has already surpassed last year's 110 casualties (82 dead and 28 missing) and exceeded the figures from 2023, when nearly 100 lives were lost in weather-related incidents. The figures are now approaching those of 2021, when 298 people died and over 50 went missing in natural calamities. That year, a flash flood in Chamoli, triggered by a rock-ice avalanche, killed 204, making it the second-worst disaster after the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, when thousands perished. Experts warn that while the Himalayan terrain makes the state inherently disaster-prone, the rising scale of loss underscores shortcomings in planning and preparedness. "Landslides, cloudbursts and other heavy rain-linked disasters will continue in the hills due to the topography. What is important is whether we are learning from these incidents and adopting mitigation measures to minimise human loss," said disaster adaptation expert and former Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) executive director Piyoosh Rautela. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo One of this year's worst calamities was the Aug 5 flash flood in Dharali, a village near the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi. Triggered by an extreme weather event in the upper catchment, it destroyed homes, fields and infrastructure. Official records confirm one death, but around 68 remain missing, including 25 Nepali workers who were engaged in local projects. Rescue efforts have been hampered by huge boulders, unstable slopes and a temporary lake in Harsil that continues to pose risks of breaching. Calling Dharali a "classic example" of misplaced habitation, Rautela stressed the need to enforce a flood zonation plan in "true letter and spirit" to prevent such tragedies. With the monsoon still underway, officials fear the toll could climb further, accentuating the urgency for stronger disaster management in the Himalayan state. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Economic Times
When mountains trap storms: The deadly mechanics of cloudbursts which have killed over 700 in Pakistan
Synopsis Pakistan is reeling from one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent memory, with more than 700 people killed since June. Flash floods triggered by cloudbursts have flattened homes, swept away farmland, and paralysed Karachi. Scientists link these disasters to rising temperatures and unstable weather patterns fuelled by climate change. From glacial melt in the Himalayas to torrential rains in Sindh, the human and economic toll is growing. Authorities warn more intense downpours could hit until mid-September. ANI Pakistan's Karachi reels under unprecedented monsoon rains; six killed, flights hit Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 706 people have died in rain-related incidents since 26 June. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the worst affected with 427 deaths, followed by Punjab with 164, Sindh with 29, Balochistan with 22, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with 56, and eight in than 25,000 people have been rescued so far, NDMA chief Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said. The agency has warned that heavy monsoon spells are likely to continue until 10 September. In Karachi, torrential rains over two days inundated major roads, broke drainage systems, and left large parts of the city without power and internet. At least eight people were killed in separate incidents, including electrocutions and house Murtaza Wahab declared a rain emergency and urged residents to remain indoors. 'It is expected to rain again from 2pm onwards. I would request people to avoid movement and if it starts to rain, please stay put where you are whether it is your office or residence,' he at Jinnah International Airport were delayed, cancelled, or diverted. Authorities deployed 26 de-watering pumps to clear standing water, while several bypasses and main roads were closed. Addressing a press conference, Wahab acknowledged the scale of the crisis. 'Climate change is a reality. If you want to make someone a target of criticism and say whatever you want, you can. But, you can see how huge a challenge climate change is for any government, state, or administration around the world.'The devastation has been worsened by cloudbursts, sudden downpours that unleash more than 100 millimetres of rain in an hour over a small area. These events are often described as 'rain bombs' because of their explosive nature.'Mountains create conducive conditions where the rapid updraft movement of air happens,' said Dr Sandeep Pattnaik, Associate Professor at the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar.'Because atmospheric instability is often caused by the mixing of different air masses, particularly over the northwestern Himalayan mountainous region, it leads to the rapid and large-scale accumulation of water vapour over certain locations.'He explained that when this water vapour builds up beyond a threshold, the clouds collapse. 'Once the excess accumulation of this water vapour and associated hydrometeors, called water loading, exceeds a certain threshold, the cloud is no longer able to hold that water, hence it releases large amounts of water over a short period.'As reported by Reuters, Fahad Saeed, a senior climate scientist at Berlin-based Climate Analytics, said that in the mountains of northern Pakistan, the warm monsoon system coming from the east was meeting colder air coming from the west, from the subtropical jet stream - a high-altitude weather system that originates in the warming is pushing this jet stream further south in summer, he said, where it can now combine with the lower-level clouds of the monsoon in Pakistan, forming a tower of clouds which then generatesg intense intense rainfall, though triggered by different local factors, takes place around the world, such as the floods in Texas in July, when more than 300 mm of rain fell in less than an hour, sending a wall of water down the Guadalupe Buner district, a single cloudburst claimed as many as 300 lives. Flash floods and landslides destroyed entire villages, while boulders crashing down steep slopes reduced homes to one case, 24 members of a family in Qadar Nagar died on the eve of a wedding when their house was swept away. Umar Khan, the head of the family, said he survived only because he was not home at the time. Four of his relatives are still India has faced similar disasters this season. Uttarakhand was struck by a cloudburst earlier this month, flooding the Himalayan village of Dharali. The event revived memories of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, which killed more than 6,000 people and affected over 4,500 a cloudburst happens over flat land, the rainfall spreads over a wide area, so the impact is less severe, said Pradeep Dangol, a senior hydrology research associate at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, based in in steep mountain valleys, the rain is concentrated into narrow streams and slopes, with the potential to trigger flash floods and landslides, he Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges combine with moist monsoon winds to create conditions ripe for cloudbursts. Scientists say these events are becoming more frequent as the atmosphere warms.'Whenever an event happens, it is a multidimensional issue. One thing is very sure, because the atmosphere gets warmer, erratic patterns develop. A rise in temperature leads to holding more water vapour, and it will lead to more rainfall,' Dr Pattnaik told India Khan, a former special secretary for climate change in Pakistan, warned: 'Rising global temperatures have supercharged the hydrologic cycle, leading to more intense and erratic rainfall. In our northern regions, warming accelerates glacier melt, adds excessive moisture to the atmosphere, and destabilises mountain slopes. In short, climate change is making rare events more frequent, and frequent events more destructive.'Cloudbursts remain almost impossible to forecast. Asfandyar Khan Khattak, an official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, admitted: 'There was no forecasting system anywhere in the world that could predict the exact time and location of a cloudburst.'Even in areas with early warning systems, such as Buner district, the sudden intensity of the rainfall struck before alerts could be organisations in northern Pakistan advise residents to avoid building near rivers or valleys, to keep emergency kits ready, and to postpone travel in hilly regions during heavy rains. They also stress the importance of afforestation and widening riverbanks to absorb excess warming has already breached the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set in the Paris Agreement. The Himalayas could lose up to 80 per cent of their glaciers by the end of this century if current trends Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rainfall in Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Punjab in the coming days, warning of possible urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and rains continue and floodwaters rise, Pakistan's struggle underlines a larger truth. The monsoon is shifting, becoming less predictable and more destructive, and its impacts are falling hardest on those least prepared to withstand them.
