Himalayan glacial lakes expanding rapidly, risking floods

Recent studies indicate that glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayas are expanding at an alarming rate, increasing the risk of catastrophic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) for downstream communities.

In the Alaknanda Basin of the Garhwal Himalayas, the area covered by larger lakes grew by approximately 67% between 1994 and 2023. During this period, 57 new lakes formed, bringing the total to 131. Notable examples include Vasundhara Lake, which more than tripled in size, and Balbala Lake, which saw growth of over 800% since 1980. These lakes are often contained by unstable dams of loose rock and debris that could fail due to earthquakes, heavy rain, or melting pressure.

In the Kishtwar region of the Warwan sub-basin, a proglacial lake expanded by roughly 350% between 1993 and 2020. Researchers found that the feeding glacier lost over 13% of its area and retreated 732 metres. Projections suggest this lake could double its surface area within 15 years, posing a significant threat to the Chenab River system and surrounding settlements.