Glacial lake spurs disaster readiness push in Lahaul-Spiti
Authorities in Lahaul-Spiti are increasing disaster preparedness following the expansion of the Ghepan glacial lake. The administration is installing early warning systems and marking flood-prone zones to mitigate the risk of a glacial lake outburst flood.
Why it matters
It addresses the growing threat of climate-induced natural disasters in the Himalayas and the proactive measures taken by local governments.
KULLU: Within days of the devastating Nepal floods, Lahaul Spiti administration has stepped up preparedness against a possible glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk, and begun ‘highest flood level’ (HFL) markings at 32 vulnerable locations along the likely flood path of Ghepan lake, considering its expansion from 36.5 hectares to 101.3 hectares in just 13 years.Thirty-two residential areas from Sissu to the Sansari border have been identified and 128 locations are being marked as potential flood-prone zones.Ghepan Lake, located at an altitude of 4,070 metres, expanded by 178% between 1989 and 2022.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in