Study warns of devastating floods from alpine lakes in IIOJK
Srinagar: A new study has identified 67 “potentially dangerous” alpine lakes in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with 11 of them classified as “high-risk” due to the threat of catastrophic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF).
The first-of-its-kind research, conducted by teams from the University of Kashmir, Central University of Jammu, and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), has warned these floods could impact hundreds of thousands of people living downstream.
The study highlights the vulnerability of these lakes to rapid destabilization triggered by external factors such as cloudbursts, avalanches, earthquakes, or mass movements. Using advanced remote sensing tools and GIS-based analysis, the study indicates that such events could lead to devastating outflows with severe consequences for nearby communities.
IIOJK, located in the high-risk seismic zone V, is home to more than 300 alpine lakes. In recent years, the region has seen a significant increase in the number and size of these lakes due to rapid glacier melting, driven by global warming. The growing human footprint in this eco-sensitive Himalayan region, fueled by increased trekking and mountaineering activities, has also raised concerns about the impact on these fragile ecosystems.
Professor Pervez Ahmed, head of the Department of Geography and Disaster Management at the University of Kashmir, said an inventory of all glacial lakes in the region has been created, analyzing their geological structure, water volume, and associated risks. The study, which was conducted in collaboration with India’s National Disaster Management Authority and Central Water Commission, classifies the lakes into four risk categories, from mildly dangerous to highly hazardous.
The researchers identified three particularly high-risk lakes: Mundikeswar, Hangu Lake, and an unnamed lake in Kishtwar district. Eight other high-risk lakes are located in the Kashmir Valley. The findings are based on preliminary field studies, and the team is calling for further funding and advanced instrumentation to develop effective mitigation strategies.
The study underscores the urgent need for intervention to prevent potential GLOF events, which could have catastrophic consequences for the lives and property of those living in the region’s downstream areas.
