After experiencing deadly floods and other related natural disasters in the Himalayan regions of the country, India intends to establish an early warning system at various high-risk glacial lakes, according to reports.
India is currently developing a pioneering pilot project, aiming to establish its inaugural early warning system at Lhonak and Shako Cho lakes.
"We'll implement surveillance systems at endangered lakes," said Krishna S. Vatsa, an official from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), according to reports.
In India, there are 56 glacial lakes that are at risk. The authorities have decided to monitor them after Lhonak Lake caused significant damage in the Indian state of Sikkim, which shares borders with China, Nepal, and Bhutan, by breaching its banks.
Hundreds were affected by the floods in the state.
The task will take priority based on input from the relevant states, according to Vatsa. Additionally, systems will be established next year to monitor glacial lake conditions.
As reported, he stated that the initial component of an early warning system would involve the surveillance of weather conditions and the environment. These systems, he added, would be unmanned and operated on either solar or battery power.
Thousands of people are facing dangerous glacial lake outburst floods in the wake of global warming.
7 September 2023, 22:26