Govt boosts efforts to tackle flood risks due to glacial lakes
In response to the growing threats posed by glacial lake overflows, the Jammu & Kashmir government has stepped up its efforts to monitor and mitigate the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). These floods, which occur when glacial lakes breach their natural dams, can lead to catastrophic consequences for the region. To enhance preparedness and understanding of these potential hazards, a series of scientific expeditions have been launched, according to a statement from the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction.
One of the key initiatives in this ongoing effort has been a comprehensive study led by Dr Sunil Dhar, from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Central University of Jammu. Dr Dhar’s team recently conducted an in-depth study of three critical glacial lakes in Kishtwar district. These lakes include Mundiksar, Hangu and an unnamed lake, all of which are located in areas that have been flagged as potentially dangerous due to the risks of GLOFs. Additionally, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) carried out a detailed study of Bram Sar Lake in Kulgam district. Earlier in June, a team from the University of Kashmir’s Department of Geography & Disaster Management also conducted field expeditions to study two other glacial lakes in the region.
The statement read, “These expeditions provided valuable data on the lake conditions, surrounding environmental factors and potential risks of GLOF events. The insights gained will be instrumental in formulating risk mitigation strategies and enhancing early warning systems in the region.”
The statement further mentioned, “The phase one expedition and data collection will initially focus on identifying and studying glacial lakes that pose a high risk of GLOFs, based on the assessments provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NRSC and CWC. The phase two will focus on developing and implementing specific mitigation measures.”
A fully functional Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Early Warning System (EWS) will also be established to enhance preparedness, ensuring effective responses to potential GLOF events where necessary lake-lowering techniques will be deployed to further mitigate the risks.
The government also constituted a Focused Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Monitoring Committee (FGMC) in April to focus on mitigation measures in the wake of overflow of glacial lakes.
