Sikkim boosts Glacier Monitoring after 2023 GLOF, says Disaster Management Director
Rai reassured that following the previous year’s lessons, the state has upgraded its early warning and monitoring infrastructure.
LOCAL
Prabhakar Rai, Director of the Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim, during a press conference today, provided important updates on the glacier monitoring efforts in the state, especially following the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event of 2023.
Addressing questions from journalist about the ongoing scientific monitoring of glaciers and vulnerable lakes in Sikkim, Rai said that after the 2023 GLOF incident, the state, with technical support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and international partners, began systematic monitoring of 16 high-risk glacial lakes. Among these, nine lakes were accessed and are being closely studied due to the difficult terrain and limited time to visit these remote locations.
Two key lakes, South Lonak Lake and Sakhochu Lake, are equipped with automated weather stations that continuously collect real-time data including temperature, water levels, and photographic evidence. This data is transmitted to monitoring centers both in Switzerland and locally to Sikkim’s State Disaster Management Authority (SSDA) and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based software platforms. These systems are designed to detect any unusual changes or sudden water level rises that could signal an impending flood.
“The automated stations alert us immediately if any untoward movement is detected, allowing timely warnings and evacuation if needed,” Rai said. He also said the coordination with the Army Liaison Officer and other agencies involved in managing the disaster risk in the region is crucial.
Rai reassured that following the previous year’s lessons, the state has upgraded its early warning and monitoring infrastructure. A warning system using sirens and public announcements is active in vulnerable river areas to inform residents in case of rising water levels, minimizing panic and ensuring safer evacuations.
He further said that the government has sufficient funds and resources to manage glacier monitoring and disaster mitigation efforts, with additional financial support available from the central government if required.