After the deadly Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) near Nepal-China border, NDMA member and senior scientist Dr Dinesh Kumar Aswal has warned that a major glacier collapse or GLOF in Indian Himalayas could cause similar or worse damage.
He said India has glaciers above 5,000 metres holding huge water. Natural hazard becomes disaster when people and infrastructure are in exposed areas, like river valleys.
He stressed need for:Detailed 1,000-year flood-risk mapping to decide where construction should be allowedContinuous monitoring of growing glacial lakes and moraine strengthStronger early warning systems and faster disaster communication downstreamLand-use planning reforms and block-level Emergency Operations CentresMonitoring work is underway by NRSC Hyderabad via satellite, CWC, and state authorities in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Sikkim and J&K.