Sikkim Launches Final Expedition to Study High-Risk Glacial Lakes

Gangtok, Nov 29: The Sikkim government has launched its fourth and final expedition from November 27 to December 5, 2024, to study high-risk glacial lakes and develop robust flood mitigation strategies in extreme high-altitude, sub-zero conditions.

The expedition focuses on two key mitigation proposals: lowering the water level at Shako Chho and constructing a retention structure at Dolma Sampa. These efforts aim to refine glacial flood modeling, enhance subsurface geological insights, and design effective solutions to prevent glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

According to an official release, the team will conduct a comprehensive lake discharge study, subsurface geophysical analysis, topographical mapping, debris deposition analysis, and flood level measurements.

Monitoring stations, equipped with real-time weather and water level data systems, are already operational, providing daily updates and triggering alerts for sudden water level changes.

The expedition team comprises scientists and engineers from the Science and Technology Department and the Mines and Geology Department, with support from the Indian Army’s 27 Mountain Division and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Operating at an altitude of 17,000 feet, the team faces formidable challenges posed by the harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions.

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