Uttarakhand Installs Early Warning Systems to Mitigate Glacial Lake Flood Risk
Uttarakhand has initiated the installation of monitoring and early warning systems for glacial lakes to mitigate the threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). The first such system is being installed at Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district. The initiative is part of the National GLOF Risk Reduction Programme.
A GLOF is a sudden flood caused by the abrupt bursting of a glacial lake, leading to a rapid outflow of water. Such events can cause catastrophic damage to life, property, and infrastructure in mountainous regions. Uttarakhand, with its fragile Himalayan ecosystem, is particularly vulnerable.
Vasundhara Tal is among 13 glacial lakes identified as high-risk by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and technical institutions. According to Vinod Kumar Suman, the state's Disaster Management Secretary, these lakes include one in Bageshwar, four in Chamoli, six in Pithoragarh, and one each in Tehri and Uttarkashi districts. Data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in 2023 identified 344 glacial lakes in the state.
A scientific and technical team was flagged off from Dehradun to install the system at Vasundhara Tal. This is the first scientific team heading to the high-Himalayan region to install a monitoring and early warning system at a glacial lake in Uttarakhand. The expedition, scheduled until October 15, is being conducted by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) under the National GLOF Risk Reduction Programme. The team comprises scientists and technical experts from the Roorkee-based Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) and the Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will accompany the team.
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, who flagged off the team, said the initiative would prove to be a milestone in mitigating the GLOF threat and understanding associated risks. He noted that state-of-the-art sensors, satellite communication, and real-time data monitoring would help in better understanding the changes occurring in glacial lakes. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his best wishes to the team, emphasising that vigilance regarding risks associated with glacial lakes is crucial. He said the state government aims to further strengthen modern monitoring and early warning mechanisms in the high-Himalayan regions through coordination among scientific institutions, experts, and departments involved in disaster management.
Suman mentioned that bathymetric surveys have already been completed for six of these 13 glacial lakes: Saraswati Tal and Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district, Kedartal in Uttarkashi district, and Mabang, Pyungru, and Syukti Yankti in Pithoragarh district. These surveys help in understanding the depth and volume of the lakes, which is crucial for assessing GLOF risk.
The initiative comes in the wake of past disasters in Uttarakhand, including the 2013 Kedarnath floods, which were partly triggered by a glacial lake outburst from Chorabari Lake. Such events highlight the importance of early warning systems. The systems being installed will use advanced technology to monitor water levels, temperature, and other parameters, providing timely alerts to communities downstream.
The installation of early warning systems is a critical step towards disaster risk reduction in the Himalayan region. It reflects a growing recognition of the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change, which is causing glaciers to melt and glacial lakes to expand. The success of this pilot at Vasundhara Tal could pave the way for similar systems at other high-risk lakes in Uttarakhand and beyond.
