One month after the sudden floods in Nepal, the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is preparing to establish an early warning system at a glacial lake. This initiative aims to reduce damage from potential lake outbursts, enhance monitoring, and make the early warning system more effective in the high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand. A scientific team departed from Dehradun last Tuesday to install the system at the Vasudhara glacial lake, also known as Vasundhara lake, located in Chamoli. This will be the state’s first early warning system installed at a glacial lake. Equipped with advanced sensors, satellite communication, and real-time data, the system will allow continuous monitoring of changes in the lake, enabling timely predictions of potential risks.
According to a report by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), the surface area of Vasudhara lake has increased nearly fivefold over the past six decades. In 1962, the lake covered an area of 10.53 hectares, which expanded to 51.07 hectares by 2024. The lake has formed on the surface of a glacier and developed as several small lakes merged. Given the growing size of the lake and the risk it poses to nearby settlements and key infrastructure in the lower areas, the state government has prioritized continuous monitoring and timely warnings through this early warning system. The campaign, which started on September 29, is scheduled to run until October 15.
The expedition team includes scientists and technical experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun. To ensure the team’s safety, mobility, and logistical support in the challenging high-altitude and remote terrain, security personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will accompany the team. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening modern monitoring and early warning systems in high-altitude areas through coordination among scientific institutions, experts, and all relevant disaster management agencies.
