How to prevent disasters from glacial lakes – Uttarakhand plans a study

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that last year, a team with representatives from USDMA, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and Indo Tibetan Border Police conducted a survey of Vasudhara Lake, located in the Dhauliganga Basin of Chamoli district. The other four Category A lakes are in Pithoragarh district, and are scheduled to be surveyed in 2025.

Of the 13 total glacial lakes in Uttarakhand, the districts of Bageshwar, Tehri, and Uttarkashi have one each, while four are in Chamoli, and six are in Pithoragarh.

Suman said efforts are underway to develop a foolproof system for monitoring glacial lakes in collaboration with various institutions by providing equipment like water-level sensors, automatic weather stations, and thermal imaging devices.

USDMA official Manish Bhagat, who is also part of the survey team, said the first step of the survey is to ascertain the length, width, terrain, and depth of the glacial lake as well as how heavy the flow downstream is. “Then comes instrumentation, where we deploy technology. When we monitor these glacial lakes in real-time, we can develop early warning systems to mitigate risks,” he said.

Joint Chief Executive Officer Obaidullah Ansari said, “The glaciers are divided based on their vulnerability into Categories A, B, and C. A survey of one of the lakes has been carried out and the remaining will begin soon. The NDMA will fund the initiative. Rs 150 crore has been allocated for the study across the country, and Uttarakhand has been given Rs 30 crore for it.”

A glacial lake outburst flood in the Kedarnath valley in 2013 had caused a major disaster in the state, leaving thousands dead. In 2021, a glacial lake outburst flood hit Chamoli, leaving over 70 dead.