Jammu & Kashmir
Mitigation of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in J&K
- 29 Mar 2025
- 3 min read
Why in News?
The Jammu and Kashmir government is implementing measures to mitigate the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
Key Points
- Geographical Vulnerability to GLOFs:
- The region's high-altitude glaciers and lakes make it particularly vulnerable to GLOFs.
- Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier melting, leading to the formation of glacial lakes that risk sudden breaches.
- These breaches can release millions of cubic meters of water and debris, posing severe threats to downstream communities.
- Comprehensive Mitigation Strategy:
- The J&K government has adopted a proactive and technologically advanced approach to address this threat.
- Key measures include:
- Expeditions and data collection to study glacial lake dynamics.
- Bathymetric surveys, water sampling, and meteorological data collection for risk assessment.
- Categorization of glacial lakes based on 17 critical parameters, including size, location, and potential mass movement zones.
- Formation of Focused Monitoring Committee:
- The Focused Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Monitoring Committee (FGMC) oversees the implementation of mitigation strategies.
- The committee has identified:
- 14 high-risk glacial lakes
- 3 moderate-risk lakes
- 7 low-risk lakes
- Expeditions to high-risk lakes like Sheeshnag and Sonsar have enhanced preparedness and understanding.
- Future Plans and Preparedness:
- The government plans to expand mitigation efforts, improve predictive abilities for heavy rainfall, and train key stakeholders like National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Aapda Mitras (local disaster response volunteers) are being trained and sensitized for vigilance in vulnerable areas.
- Scientific Expeditions for Risk Assessment:
- The government has conducted specialized expeditions led by Central University of Jammu to study critical glacial lakes.
- Three high-risk lakes in Kishtwar district were analyzed:
- Mundiksar Lake
- Hangu Lake
- An unnamed glacial lake
- These expeditions provided valuable data on lake conditions, environmental factors, and potential GLOF risks.
