Five glacial lakes in the Kashmir Himalaya had “very high susceptibility” to GLOFs

Why in News?

A recent study by the University of Kashmir, published in the Journal of Glaciology, identified five glacial lakes—Bramsar, Chirsar, Nundkol, Gangabal, and Bhagsar—in the Kashmir Himalaya as having “very high susceptibility” to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The issue was raised in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly in March 2026, where Omar Abdullah referred to the study and highlighted the potential risk posed by these lakes.

About Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)

• A glacial lake forms when a retreating glacier leaves behind a natural barrier of debris called a moraine, behind which meltwater accumulates.
• Moraines are composed of loose rocks, boulders, and sediments and are inherently unstable compared to engineered dams.
• When the moraine dam breaches due to triggers such as heavy rainfall, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, or glacier melt, a sudden release of water occurs, causing a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).
• GLOFs can unleash enormous volumes of water and debris within a short period, leading to flash floods, infrastructure damage, loss of life, and ecological destruction downstream.

Why is the Risk Increasing?

• Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat across the Himalayas.
• New glacial lakes are forming, while existing lakes are expanding and sometimes merging.
• Increased meltwater storage raises the likelihood and magnitude of future GLOF events.
• Climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and intensity of GLOF hazards in mountain regions.

Major GLOF Events in India

2013 Kedarnath Disaster: One of the most devastating Himalayan flood events, associated with the breach of a glacial lake and extreme rainfall, causing widespread destruction in Uttarakhand.

2023 South Lhonak Lake GLOF (Sikkim): On the night of 3–4 October 2023, a catastrophic GLOF occurred at South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim. Triggered by a massive permafrost landslide and heavy rainfall, the lake breached its moraine dam. Around 50 million cubic metres of water were released, devastating settlements and infrastructure along the Teesta River valley.

2021 Chamoli Flood-not caused by a GLO: According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, the February 2021 Chamoli disaster was not caused by a GLOF, as no significant glacial lake existed in the area. The event was linked to a massive rock-ice avalanche.

Government Initiatives

National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Project (NGRMP)

• Approved by the Government of India to reduce GLOF-related risks.
• Implemented in four Himalayan states: Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
• Financial outlay: ₹150 crore.
• Focus areas include:
  • Hazard assessment and monitoring,
  • Early warning systems,
  • Risk reduction measures,
  • Community preparedness and capacity building.

Sources: NIE, ICIMOD & PIB