Jammu, Dec 24 (NationPress) To address the escalating dangers linked to glacial lake overflows, the Jammu & Kashmir government has amplified its initiatives to oversee and alleviate the threats posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFS).

"A series of scientific expeditions have been organized to bolster understanding and readiness against these potential dangers," an official announcement from the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction noted.

"As part of these efforts, a specialized expedition team led by Dr. Sunil Dhar from the Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu, recently performed a detailed study of three significant glacial lakes in the Kishtwar district. The team explored various lakes, including Mundiksar, Hangu, and several unnamed lakes in the Kishtwar region. Additionally, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted a comprehensive examination of Bram Sar Lake in the Kulgam district. Moreover, the Department of Geography & Disaster Management at the University of Kashmir carried out a field expedition to two glacial lakes earlier in June," it mentioned.

"These expeditions yielded critical data regarding lake conditions, environmental factors, and potential hazards of GLOF occurrences. The insights acquired will be essential in devising risk mitigation strategies and enhancing early warning systems in the area," it further stated.

"These expeditions significantly contributed to gathering vital information and evaluating the risks tied to potentially hazardous glacial lakes (PDGLS) in Jammu & Kashmir."

The communication indicated that the GLOF mitigation strategy will unfold in two distinct phases.

"Phase I, termed ‘expedition and data collection’, will concentrate on identifying and analyzing glacial lakes that present a high risk of GLOFs, based on evaluations from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), and the Central Water Commission (CWC), among others.

"Phase II will aim at developing and executing targeted mitigation strategies. A fully operational Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Early Warning System (EWS) will also be established to boost preparedness. Personnel will receive training on the operation and interpretation of the EWS, ensuring effective responses to potential GLOF events, with necessary lake-lowering techniques applied to further alleviate the risks."

The Jammu & Kashmir government established a Focused Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Monitoring Committee (FGMC) in April 2024 to concentrate on mitigation measures in response to the overflow of glacial lakes, as per an official statement.