Centre Reviews GLOF, Avalanche Preparedness With Himalayan States
Union Home Secretary chairs meeting with Himalayan states to review GLOF and avalanche preparedness, stressing proactive monitoring and risk-informed planning.
The Union Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to assess the preparedness of Himalayan states and union territories against the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches.
The meeting brought together Chief Secretaries and State Disaster Management Authorities from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Water Commission (CWC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) also participated.
Discussions centred on the evolving threat of GLOFs, with detailed reviews of early warning mechanisms, monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and snow-covered zones, and identification of high-risk locations. State-specific vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies were examined, with a focus on translating plans into concrete action at the district and local levels.
The Home Secretary emphasised the need for continuous and proactive monitoring, especially during periods of heightened risk. States were advised to maintain close coordination between state agencies, district administrations, and scientific institutions to ensure warnings are acted upon swiftly.
A key takeaway was the push to move beyond response-oriented measures towards risk-informed planning and preventive mitigation. States were urged to regularly review their preparedness plans, identify gaps in early warning and evacuation arrangements, and take corrective steps in advance of any extreme event. The meeting also highlighted the need to expedite progress on GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned by the central government in 2024.
The review concluded with directives for sustained inter-agency coordination, regular sharing of risk information, and strengthening of response frameworks to minimise loss of life and property in vulnerable Himalayan regions.