Official briefs Pangi panchayats on glacial lake outburst threat

In view of a looming threat posed by potential glacial lake outburst in the Pangi subdivision, Officiating Resident Commissioner Raman Gharsangi convened a meeting with panchayat representatives at Killar on Wednesday.

Gharsangi said over the last three decades, the glacial lake located in the Ghepang valley in Lahaul-Spiti has been expanding continuously. Due to this expansion, there is an increased risk of a sudden lake breach, which could trigger flooding in downstream areas of Pangi as well.

The villages likely to be affected fall under Gram Panchayat Shaur, Purthi, including Ajog and Chhau villages, Sach and Finderu, raising serious concerns.

He said to minimise risks and ensure an effective response in the event of an emergency, special training will be provided to villagers soon. The training will cover crucial aspects such as disaster management, early warning alerts, identification of safe evacuation routes, community coordination and essential first response measures.

Gharsangi urged the panchayat representatives to take an active role in spreading awareness among the villagers, identifying vulnerable locations and ensuring compliance with all guidelines issued by the administration.

He emphasised that with community cooperation and preparedness, the impact of any possible disaster can be reduced. Block Development Officer Yogesh Verma, Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department Ram Ratna and representatives from various panchayats were present at the meeting.