Himalayas face severe glacial flood risks in years ahead, UN official warns - Reuters

**Himalayas face severe glacial flood risks in years ahead, UN official warns – Reuters**

A senior United Nations climate official warned this week that the Himalayan region is on the brink of a “catastrophic” wave of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that could affect millions of people across India, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Rapid melting of glaciers, driven by rising temperatures, is expanding existing glacial lakes while creating new ones in the high‑altitude catchments. The UN specialist highlighted that the combined effect of climate‑induced melt and insufficient monitoring could trigger sudden, high‑energy floods that would overwhelm downstream communities, infrastructure and agricultural lands within the next decade.

In response, Indian state governments such as Uttarakhand have resumed systematic surveys of glacial lakes, deploying satellite imagery, drone mapping and on‑ground hydro‑geological assessments. The move follows the 2023 floods in Nepal, which the Times of India linked to inadequate lake monitoring and accelerated glacier retreat. Nepal’s glaciers have shrunk by roughly 41 % since 1815, leaving the country with 21 lakes classified as “dangerous” by the Ministry of Environment. Satellite images published by The News Minute illustrated how a burst from a high‑altitude lake unleashed torrents that devastated villages, damaged roads and claimed lives, underscoring the urgency of robust early‑warning systems.

Experts say the growing flood risk demands a coordinated trans‑national framework for glacial lake management, combining real‑time remote sensing, community‑level preparedness drills and investment in resilient infrastructure. International donors and regional bodies are being urged to fund continuous monitoring, capacity‑building for local authorities and the development of risk‑mapping tools that can predict breach scenarios. Without swift, collaborative action, the Himalayas’ “water towers” could become sources of disaster rather than sustenance for the densely populated valleys below.