New Delhi. Many people lost their lives in a catastrophic flood in Nepal on 26 August 2026 due to the breaking of a large part of a glacier in China. Thousands of people are still missing after the floods in Nepal. Now a research by IIT Mandi has said that due to glacier lakes there is a possibility of a major disaster in India too. IIT Mandi conducted research on about 200 glacier lakes. He found that 9 to 12 such lakes could become a threat.
According to Derricks P. Shukla, Associate Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, the size of many glacier-formed lakes in Himachal has increased by 30 to 60 percent in the last 10 years. This poses a risk of future flooding from glacier lakes. He said that tourism and pollution are continuously increasing in the Himalayas. Due to which glaciers are also melting rapidly. Due to vehicle movement and human activity, carbon and dust get deposited on glaciers. Due to which a black layer is formed on the ice of the glacier. Black color absorbs more heat from the sun. Due to which the process of melting of the glacier accelerates.
He told that in the Himalayas, the rocks, soil etc. under the earth also become unstable. This is called permafrost. This creates a risk of incidents like landslides in the mountains. Professor Shukla says that the catastrophic floods in Nepal brought devastation due to the breaking of glaciers and slipping of permafrost. He said that connectivity in the mountains is a good thing, but it should be controlled. Due to the arrival of tourists throughout the year, dust is accumulating on the glacier. He said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified the endangered Ghepan Lake, Vasuki Lake, Lake near Baspa and Kashang Lake, which should be immediately addressed. IIT Mandi has identified 9 such very dangerous lakes. The biggest threat is from Ghepan, Yoche and Kali Kund lakes. Their size is increasing.
