Sikkim sending glacial lakes expedition to preempt repeat of the 2023 flood disaster – Tibetan Review

(TibetanReview.net, Aug28’24) – In order to preempt any Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), such as the one which occurred at South Lhonak Lake last year, with tragic losses of lives and property, the government of Sikkim is to send a vital expedition aimed at assessing five glacial lakes facing significant threats in the Tibet-border region in the Indian state.

The mission is scheduled to run from Aug 28 to Sep 14. The lakes under scrutiny are Gurudongmar A, B, and C, Sakho Chu, and Khangchu Lake, all situated in the Mangan district, near the Tibet border, reported eastmojo.com Aug 23 and assamtribune.com Aug 25.

The expedition follows a previous mission by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Swiss experts, which was conducted before the 2023 GLOF, the report said.

The 2023 GLOF was reported to have caused extensive damage in Chungthang village after the flood reached the nearby Teesta III Dam at midnight. Five Tibetan houses were reported to be among those washed away by a flash flood. It was the deadliest flood in the area after the 1968 Sikkim floods when around 1,000 people were killed.

By Oct 18, 92 people were confirmed dead, with more bodies being retrieved. Among the missing were 23 Indian Army personnel, of whom seven were subsequently found dead and one rescued alive.

Led by Sandeep Tambe, Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology of Sikkim, the team of 32 will include experts from six departments, including the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Mines and Geology, Water Resources, Forest, Science and Technology, and research scholars from Sikkim University, the report said.

Tambe has emphasised a multidisciplinary approach to mitigate glacial hazards, addressing flood threats from the lakes, avalanche-induced floods, and water discharge management. “Our mitigation strategy includes methods such as siphoning, pumping, tunnelling, channelling, and deepening the lakes to manage water levels,” Tambe has said.

Key objectives are stated to include testing the strength of moraine dams created by glaciers and installing pressure probes to monitor water levels.

The SDMA has formed a special task force for glacial lake mitigation and is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), neighbouring countries Nepal and Bhutan, and Swiss experts, the report said.

In addition to the five targeted lakes, Sikkim has several other glacial lakes under threat, including three in Geyzing district and 13 in Mangan district.

Of them, the Sakho Chu, which holds 25-27 million cubic metres of water, is of particular concern as it has no outlet, and is bordered by high moraine structures. This lake is close to Thangu, the last habitable village before the cold desert regions. The Zemu Glacier, the largest in the area, also faces threats from climate change, the report noted.

Moraine lakes are formed as a result of melting glaciers dammed by loose rocks and soil brought along by such glaciers.

State Relief Commissioner Namrata Thapa has said the expedition represents a ‘discovery’ in glacial lake research, adding, “The areas impacted by the GLOF remain unstable. This study will examine potential threats from landslides, earthquakes, or avalanches and assess how such events could affect the moraine dams.”

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