India Deploys High-Tech Warning Systems at Nearly 200 Himalayan Glacial Lakes

 India Launches Flood Warning Systems at Himalayan Glacial Lakes

News Portal 247

NEW DELHI, Sept 3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - India is implementing advanced warning systems at approximately 200 Himalayan glacial lakes that are at risk of bursting, a growing danger intensified by climate change, disaster officials reported on Tuesday.

The Indian Himalayas are home to at least 7,500 glacial lakes, many of which pose significant threats of flash floods.

Teams from India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are focusing on 190 high-altitude lakes identified as the most hazardous. The project, expected to span three years, aims to mitigate the risks associated with these lakes.

"We have already made significant strides in mitigating risks," said Safi Ahsan Rizvi, a senior NDMA official leading the mission, in an interview with AFP.

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurs when water stored in a former glacier bed is suddenly released. These lakes are formed as glaciers retreat, a process accelerated by the warmer temperatures associated with human-caused climate change.

One current expedition is installing early warning systems around six high-risk lakes in the northeastern state of Sikkim, where a similar flood in October 2023 claimed at least 77 lives.

"We have completed work on 20 lakes so far and aim to finish 40 by the end of this summer," Rizvi added.

The initiative also involves "lowering lake levels" to reduce the accumulated water and ice slush in these lakes.

The teams are composed of experts from various sectors, including the army, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), geologists, hydrologists, computing engineers, and weather specialists. India's air force is also expected to assist by airlifting heavy equipment to remote locations.

'Catastrophic Impacts'

The mission will cover the entire Himalayan region in India, from Kashmir and Ladakh in the north to Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast, with many areas located near the Chinese border.

Climate change is causing glaciers to disappear at an alarming rate. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, half of the Earth’s 215,000 glaciers are projected to melt by the end of the century.

The volume of water in glacial lakes has increased by 50 percent over the past 30 years, according to a 2020 study that utilized satellite data.

Another study, published in Nature Communications, found that 15 million people globally live within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of a glacial lake and are at risk of flooding if a breach occurs.

The highest risk is in the "High Mountains Asia" region, which spans 12 countries, including India, Pakistan, China, and Nepal. The density of population near these lakes shortens the response time in case of an emergency.

Last month, a glacial lake outburst in Nepal's Everest region triggered a devastating flood that swept through the village of Thame, destroying buildings. Fortunately, residents were warned in advance, and no lives were lost.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) emphasized that this incident is a stark reminder of the "catastrophic impacts" of rising global temperatures on populations that have contributed the least to the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.