On the majestic peak of Sumeru Mountain, sitting above the holy town of Kedarnath, an avalanche occurred on 30th June 2024. It was not the first; similar events were recorded in the preceding years. But why? Could it be that the impending disaster this time around stems not from cataclysmic waters, but an avalanche hazard? Not just Kedarnath Valley, but many such regions that are on the brink of danger.
The government of Uttarakhand is intensively studying 13 glacier lakes situated at high altitudes in an effort to prepare for the perils they pose. Should these lakes rupture, they may precipitate cataclysm akin to the tragic 2013 disaster. Uttarakhand is marked by several such glacial lakes, all of which are sensitive and could burst at any moment.
In view of the imminent threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Department is studying 13 glacier lakes, of which five are within high-risk zones. These include lakes in the regions of Pithoragarh district's Darma, Laseriyanghati and Kuti-Yangti valleys, and Chamoli district's Dhauli Ganga basin ranging from 0.02 to 0.50 square kilometers in area.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the Western Himalayas may experience exceptionally heavy rainfall and potential flooding in July. Projections indicate above-average rainfall, which could rapidly inflate river basins in the Western Himalayan states, as some of the country's major rivers originate there.
Source: aajtak
With the various glaciers situated nearly 13,123 feet above sea level, a study scheduled to begin in the first week of July is expected to reveal precise measurements of altitude, size, depth, and risk level for these glacial lakes. The task of studying these icy reservoirs is in itself a perilous one.
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Following major calamities in Uttarakhand over the last years, including the Kedarnath disaster in June 2013 caused by glacial lake burst leading to flash floods and the lost lives of more than 6,000 with thousands unaccounted for, the region remains vulnerable to similar tragedies. The Chamoli district's Rishiganga valley faced similar misfortune in February 2021, claiming 72 lives.
