Indian glacial lake that flooded was poised to get early warning system  

In Science & Environment
October 07, 2023
Indian glacial lake that flooded was poised to get early warning system  


Environment

Reuters exclusively reported that Scientists and government authorities were working on an early warning system for glacial floods at a Himalayan lake in northeast India when it broke its banks this week with deadly consequences. Mountainous Sikkim state plunged into chaos on Wednesday as floods spurred by heavy rain and an avalanche killed at least 40 people. It was one of the worst disasters in the region in 50 years, and dozens remained missing on Friday. 

Market Impact

As climate change warms high mountain regions, many communities are facing dangerous glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Lakes holding water from melted glaciers can overfill and burst, sending torrents rushing down mountain valleys. More than 200 such lakes now pose a very high hazard to Himalayan communities in India, Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bhutan, according to 2022 research. 

Article Tags

Topics of Interest: Environment

Type: Reuters Best

Sectors: Climate Change

Regions: Asia

Countries: India

Win Types: Exclusivity

Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop

Media Types: Text

Customer Impact: Significant National Story