Dehradun: A delegation led by National Disaster Management Authority has reviewed a proof-of-concept glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) early warning system in Himachal Pradesh, signalling plans to scale up monitoring across the Himalayas.Dehradun: A delegation led by the National Disaster Management Authority has reviewed a proof-of-concept glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) early warning system in Himachal Pradesh, signalling plans to scale up monitoring across the Himalayas.
According to NDMA secretary Manish Bhardwaj, the system — developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing — was demonstrated at Sissu on April 15. It integrates sensors to track weather, visibility and lake water levels, transmitting real-time data via satellite.Officials from multiple agencies, including the Central Water Commission and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, were part of the visit.
“A similar system will next be installed at Gepang Gath Lake in the Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh after validation, paving the way for a wider GLOF monitoring network in vulnerable Himalayan regions,” Bhardwaj said in a LinkedIn post.Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the system uses sensor-equipped buoys, automatic weather stations and satellite-based communication to monitor glacial lakes in real time.
It tracks parameters such as water levels, weather conditions and visibility, transmitting data through INSAT satellites and uses AI-driven geospatial tools to analyse changes and generate early warnings.The initiative comes amid growing concern over GLOF risks linked to climate change. Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, leading to the formation and expansion of glacial lakes that can burst suddenly, triggering devastating floods downstream.
NDMA has identified 189 high-risk glacial lakes across the Himalayas, including several in Uttarakhand, for targeted monitoring and mitigation.Officials said the satellite-based warning system marks a significant step towards improving early warning capabilities and reducing disaster risk in the fragile Himalayan region, where infrastructure and communities remain highly exposed to such hazards.
