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Uttarakhand Installs First Glacial Lake Warning System to Prevent Flood Disasters
M
Moneycontrol•30-09-2026, 11:15
Uttarakhand Installs First Glacial Lake Warning System to Prevent Flood Disasters
- •Uttarakhand has begun installing its first real-time early-warning system at Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district, one of 13 high-risk glacial lakes identified by the NDMA.
- •The initiative aims to actively monitor vulnerable glacial lakes for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can cause sudden and devastating floods downstream.
- •A scientific and technical team from CBRI, Roorkee, and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, is installing the system under the National GLOF Risk Reduction Programme.
- •The system will monitor water levels, temperature, rainfall, snow depth, water flow, and ground movement, transmitting data via satellite due to remote location.
- •This early warning system will provide crucial information for authorities to take preventive action, safeguarding communities, infrastructure, and hydropower projects downstream.
Key Questions Answered
Uttarakhand is installing its first real-time early-warning system at Vasundhara Tal, which is one of the 13 high-risk glacial lakes identified in Chamoli district by the National Disaster Management Authority and technical institutions.
A scientific and technical team from the Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun is handling the installation.
Since mobile networks are unavailable in the remote location, the system will rely on solar power and transmit data using satellite communication connected to a data logger and monitoring dashboard.
