Expert Team Leaves for Scientific Survey of Saraswati Tal and Kedar Tal to Assess Potential Glacier Lake Risks
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman flags off team; CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Minister Madan Kaushik extend best wishes
Dehradun: In a significant step towards reducing potential disaster risks associated with glacier lakes and strengthening disaster preparedness in Uttarakhand, an expert team has been dispatched to conduct a detailed scientific and bathymetric survey of Saraswati Tal in Chamoli district and Kedar Tal in Uttarkashi district.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman flagged off the expert team from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik extended their best wishes to the team and highlighted the importance of scientific assessment of vulnerable glacier lakes for timely risk identification and mitigation.
Scientific assessment of vulnerable glacier lakes
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that comprehensive surveys and scientific studies are being undertaken for vulnerable glacier lakes located across Uttarakhand. The studies will assess the present condition of the lakes, water levels, changes in their size, surrounding terrain and areas that may face potential risks.
The Chief Minister emphasized that timely dissemination of warnings to potentially affected areas is crucial in the event of an emerging threat. Modern sensors, water-level measuring instruments, communication systems and other essential technological resources will be deployed to strengthen early-warning capabilities and enable timely response during any potential disaster.
Focus on evacuation routes and local warning systems
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik said that the state government is undertaking all necessary protective and risk-reduction measures to minimize the possible impact of glacier lake-related disasters.
He said vulnerable areas will be identified and mapped, while safe evacuation routes, potentially affected areas, communication systems, local-level warning mechanisms and relief and rescue preparedness will be strengthened. The objective is to ensure that the administration is adequately prepared before any potential disaster occurs.
13 glacier lakes identified as vulnerable
Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that 13 glacier lakes in Uttarakhand have been identified as vulnerable. Surveys of four of these lakes have already been completed, while scientific studies and surveys of the remaining vulnerable lakes are being undertaken in a phased manner.
As part of this initiative, the expert team has been deployed for the bathymetric survey of Saraswati Tal in Chamoli and Kedar Tal in Uttarkashi. The survey will examine the present condition and water levels of the two lakes, factors that could contribute to potential hazards, and the possible downstream impact of any adverse event.
Suman said that Saraswati Tal is located at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres, while Kedar Tal is situated at around 4,750 metres. Conducting scientific surveys in these extremely high-altitude and geographically challenging locations is considered important from the perspective of disaster risk reduction.
Experts from multiple institutions join the mission
Experts from several specialized institutions and security forces have been included in the survey mission. The joint team comprises specialists from USDMA, ULMCC, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, NIH Roorkee, SDRF, NDRF and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
The multidisciplinary participation will facilitate a comprehensive scientific assessment of the glacier lakes, their potential hazards and the possible impact on downstream areas.
The team includes Rohit Kumar and Nikhil Punia from USDMA; Dr. Vishal and Deepak Bhatt from ULMCC; Dr. Sheikh Nawaz Ali, Shubhajit Ghosh and Prakash Ranjan Jena from BSIP, Lucknow; Dr. Pinky Bisht, Swapnil Bisht and Shivyaank Singh Negi from Wadia Institute; Shiv Shankar Yadav and Dr. Shivanand Mandaraha from NIH Roorkee; Nitesh Khetwal and Sandeep Singh from SDRF; and Sachin Kumar and Manish Kumar from NDRF, besides officials and experts from Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts.
Mahendra and Manoj Singh from Chamoli, along with Shardul Gusain, DDMA, and Engineer Narendra Singh Rawat from Uttarkashi, are also part of the team.
Vice-Chairperson of the State Advisory Committee, Disaster Management Department, Vinay Ruhela, Lt. Col. Raghuvir Singh Bhandari (Retd.), ACEO Implementation DIG Rajkumar Negi, JCEO Dinesh Kumar Punetha and other officials were also present on the occasion.
