Alaknanda Basin Has 131 Risky Glacial Lakes

Aaj Tak · environment

A new study reveals 131 glacial lakes in the Alaknanda basin, with their total area increasing by 67% from 0.97 to 1.62 sq km between 1994 and 2023. During this period, 57 new lakes formed, and some, like Vasundhara and Balbala, saw significant expansion. This growth poses a severe risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can devastate infrastructure and settlements.