SDC Foundation UDAAI Report
By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 24 Nov: The Himalayan region, including Uttarakhand, is witnessing continuous glacial movement, with reports of glaciers retreating and the number and size of glacial lakes increasing significantly. The October 2024 edition of the Uttarakhand Disaster and Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI) report released by the Dehradun-based environmental action and advocacy group, SDC Foundation, highlights two major glacial events. Similar reports in February and April this year too had raised concerns about glacier-related incidents.
SDC Foundation’s founder, Anoop Nautiyal described these developments as extremely concerning, warning that this trend could lead to severe challenges in Uttarakhand, potentially affecting both human and wildlife populations. He called for regular monitoring by state and central government agencies and urged them to expand the scope of their investigations. Additionally, referring to previous UDAAI reports, he emphasised the need for the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority to provide a detailed update on the glacier risks across the state to key stakeholders in Uttarakhand.
According to the October UDAAI report, the retreat of glaciers in the Himalayan region has significantly increased the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). A study published by Springer, a leading scientific journal publisher, pointed out that glacial retreat in the Western Himalayas has heightened the risk of GLOF related floods in the region.
The study, authored by Suhail A Lone and G Jeelani from Kashmir University, compares two climatically distinct valleys—the Lidder Basin in Kashmir Himalayas and the Suru Basin in Ladakh—to examine the changes in glacier snout positions and areas over recent decades.
The October UDAAI report also includes news about the Pindari Glacier, which has receded by more than half a kilometre in the past 60 years. The report states that due to the continuous increase in human intervention, glaciers are retreating year after year. Where the glacier’s zero point used to be 60 years ago, there are now crumbling mountains. These changes highlight environmental shifts that reflect both the retreat of the glacier and the challenges posed by both natural and human-induced factors.
Earlier UDAAI reports also covered issues related to glacial activity. The February report highlighted that a committee formed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) identified 13 potentially dangerous glacial lakes in Uttarakhand. On 12 February 2024, Ranjit Sinha, the then Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, led a meeting with scientists and experts to assess the status of these glacial lakes and the risks they pose.
During the meeting, scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology reported that numerous glacial lakes are situated near the Gangotri Glacier, with some classified as “highly hazardous”. They specifically raised concerns about Vasudhara Lake, citing its “high level of hazard” and the urgent need for regular monitoring using observation equipment.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing under the Indian Space Research Organisation noted the expansion of glaciers such as Kedartal, Bhilangana, and Goriganga, and emphasised the increasing risks in these areas.
The October report includes information about water leakage at the Tungnath Temple, the highest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, resulting in concerns about the temple’s foundation and potential structural damage. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee contacted the Geological Survey of India and Archaeological Survey of India for a site inspection. After evaluating the situation, both organisations have recommended measures to prevent further damage. It now rests on the temple committee and the state government to take necessary actions.
The October UDDAI report covers a landslide that occurred on the under-construction Helang-Marwari bypass on the Badrinath Highway on 12 October.
