Centre reviews Himalayan States' readiness for glacial lake floods

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with Himalayan States and Union Territories to review their preparedness for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches. The review comes in the wake of devastating flash floods in Nepal that have killed hundreds and left thousands missing.

Chief Secretaries and State Disaster Management Authorities of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir participated in the meeting. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, Central Water Commission, India Meteorological Department, and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment were also present.

Discussions centred on the evolving threat of GLOFs in the Himalayan region. Officials examined monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and snow-covered areas, identification of high-risk zones, mapping of potential flow paths, and improving alert dissemination and evacuation planning.

States presented their mitigation measures, including lake monitoring, enhancement of early warning systems, last-mile communication of alerts, community awareness drives, and deployment of response resources in hazard-prone areas. State-specific vulnerabilities and preparedness plans were also reviewed.

Mohan emphasised continuous surveillance of vulnerable glacial lakes and avalanche-prone regions, particularly during periods of heightened risk. He called for close coordination among State agencies, district administrations, and scientific institutions to ensure timely action on warnings.

The Home Secretary stressed that preparedness should move beyond a response-oriented approach and focus on preventive mitigation, risk reduction, and community-level readiness. States were urged to regularly assess their plans, identify gaps in early warning and evacuation systems, and take corrective measures well in advance.

The Centre also asked States to expedite implementation of GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned in 2024. Agencies were directed to strengthen inter-agency coordination and regular sharing of risk information to minimise loss of life and property in vulnerable Himalayan regions.