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12h ago

CWC Flags 432 Expanding Himalayan Glacial Lakes for Vigorous Monitoring

The agency warns that rapid surveillance with early warnings is needed to cut rising outburst flood danger from warming-driven lake growth.

Deadly floods looming? Over 400 Himalayan glacial lakes show alarming expansion
The total glacial lake area in India has grown by over 30 per cent since 2011 -- rising from 1,917 hectares to 2,508 hectares.
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Overview

  • India’s Central Water Commission said its June 2025 review, released publicly this week, found 432 glacial lakes expanding and requiring heightened watch for potential flood hazards.
  • The total area of glacial lakes within India has increased by 30.83% since 2011, rising from 1,917 hectares to 2,508 hectares by June 2025.
  • Arunachal Pradesh recorded the most expanding lakes (197), followed by Ladakh (120), Jammu and Kashmir (57), Sikkim (47), Himachal Pradesh (6) and Uttarakhand (5).
  • The CWC urged installation of real-time monitoring, satellite-triggered alerts and downstream early-warning systems, with tighter coordination among Jal Shakti, NDMA and state authorities.
  • The report also called for cooperation with Nepal, Bhutan and China, and it was published as heavy rains and landslides caused deaths and major disruptions, including a prolonged halt to the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.