By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Uttarakhand has launched an initiative to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems for glacial lakes in the high Himalayas, with the first such system being installed at Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district to help reduce the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Tuesday flagged off a scientific and technical team from the Secretariat for the high-altitude mission, which is scheduled to work from September 29 to October 15.
The system will use advanced sensors, satellite communication and real-time data monitoring to track changes in the lake and surrounding environment. The state government said the initiative would help improve understanding of potential risks and strengthen disaster preparedness.
The team comprises scientists and technical experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun. Personnel from the SDRF, NDRF and ITBP will provide security, transportation and field support in the difficult terrain.
The monitoring system will include water-level, weather, snow-depth, snow sub-surface temperature, tilt, accelerometer and water-flow sensors, along with solar power, satellite communication and a data logger and monitoring dashboard. The system will record data and generate alerts when predefined thresholds are crossed.
According to the state government, 344 glacial lakes have been identified in Uttarakhand based on 2023 data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). Of these, 13 have been identified as high-risk lakes by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and technical institutions.
The 13 high-risk lakes include one in Bageshwar, four in Chamoli, six in Pithoragarh, one in Tehri Garhwal and one in Uttarkashi.
Scientific investigations have already been completed for six of these lakes through bathymetric surveys. They include Saraswati Tal and Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli, Kedartal and Mabangg, Pyunggru and Syunkiti Yankti proglacial lakes in the Darma Valley of Pithoragarh.
The surveys have provided data on lake depth, water-holding capacity and other hydrological parameters to help assess GLOF risks.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik said strengthening scientific monitoring of glacial lakes was a priority for the state. He said the government aimed to use modern technology and scientific expertise to minimise disaster risks and strengthen the safety of people living in vulnerable Himalayan areas.
Chief Secretary Bardhan said the Vasundhara Tal system would provide a foundation for installing similar early warning systems at other vulnerable glacial lakes in the state.