📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rohit Sharma
Science
Government identifies 68 potentially hazardous glacial lakes in Jammu & Kashmir
✍️ Kashmir Life
🗓 29 Sep 2026, 02:47 AM
👁 9
The Jammu & Kashmir government has listed 68 glacial lakes that could pose flood risks, prompting monitoring and mitigation plans.
The disaster management authority of Jammu & Kashmir has released a detailed inventory of 68 glacial lakes that are classified as potentially dangerous. These water bodies are situated in the high‑altitude zones of the Himalayas within the union territory and have been identified through satellite imagery and field surveys.
Officials say the lakes could trigger glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) during periods of rapid melt or seismic activity. In response, the government plans to set up continuous monitoring, early‑warning systems, and, where feasible, structural reinforcement to reduce the threat to downstream communities.
The move comes after several recent incidents in the region where sudden lake bursts caused damage to infrastructure and displaced residents. Authorities have pledged to prioritize risk mitigation and coordinate with national agencies to safeguard vulnerable areas.
Officials say the lakes could trigger glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) during periods of rapid melt or seismic activity. In response, the government plans to set up continuous monitoring, early‑warning systems, and, where feasible, structural reinforcement to reduce the threat to downstream communities.
The move comes after several recent incidents in the region where sudden lake bursts caused damage to infrastructure and displaced residents. Authorities have pledged to prioritize risk mitigation and coordinate with national agencies to safeguard vulnerable areas.