Teesta Valley at high risk of another Glacial Lake Flood, warns study

Gangtok, Jan 31: The Teesta River Valley, which suffered a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) 16 months ago claiming 55 lives, remains highly vulnerable to a similar disaster, according to a study by an international team of scientists.

Sikkim’s South Lhonak Lake, the source of the October 3, 2023 flood that released water equivalent to 20,000 Olympic swimming pools into the Teesta Valley, continues to pose a significant threat.

The study underscores the urgent need for risk mitigation strategies and early warning systems against GLOFs, which occur when natural barriers of rock and sediment fail to hold back glacial lakes.

The researchers utilized satellite imagery, seismic data, weather records, field observations, and computer simulations to reconstruct the catastrophic event and offer what they describe as the most detailed analysis to date.

“Our reconstruction has implications for future preparedness,” said Ashim Sattar, a glaciologist at IIT Bhubaneswar and lead author of the study which was published in the US-based journal Science.

The findings emerged just three weeks after the Union Environment Ministry approved a proposal on January 10 to rebuild the dam at Chungthang, which was destroyed during the flood. The Teesta III project, Sikkim’s largest hydroelectric unit, had a capacity of 1,200 MW before the disaster.

The study highlights the unstable rocky ridges and loose rock-soil formations flanking South Lhonak Lake as factors that increase its vulnerability to future GLOFs.

It also warns that current GLOF models may underestimate flood risks, calling for updated and more accurate forecasting systems to prevent further devastation.

Also Read: Assam: 1 drug peddler arrested with narcotic items in South Salmara Mankachar

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.