The Union government has reviewed preparedness in Himalayan states and Union Territories to handle avalanche risks and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) threats, in the wake of the recent disaster in Nepal.
Nepal witnessed a major flood triggered by a glacial burst, with reports of over 1,000 deaths and more than 4,000 people missing. Rescue operations are continuing in the affected areas.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held the review through a video conference with chief secretaries and State Disaster Management Authority officials from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Disaster Management Authority, the Central Water Commission, the India Meteorological Department and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment also participated.
According to an official statement, the meeting assessed monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and snow-covered zones, strengthening early warning systems, improving last-mile delivery of alerts, identifying high-risk locations and flood pathways, and enhancing evacuation and rescue readiness. States and UTs were also asked to ensure close coordination among state agencies, district administrations and science and technology institutions for swift, effective response.
The Centre further urged states to expedite mitigation plans for GLOF that were approved in 2024, and to maintain continuous, precautionary monitoring of high-risk glacial lakes and avalanche-prone areas, especially during periods of heightened vulnerability.
