Rising Ghepang Lake Water Level Raises Alarm; Lahaul-Spiti Administration Reviews Evacuation and Early Warning Plans.
Keylong:
The Lahaul-Spiti district administration has stepped up surveillance and disaster preparedness measures following a rise in the water level of Ghepang Glacial Lake, amid concerns over the potential risk of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).
Deputy Commissioner and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Chairperson Kiran Bhadana personally visited the remote lake on Tuesday to assess the situation and review preparedness measures. She undertook a difficult 14-kilometre trek from Sissu to reach the lake, located at an altitude of around 4,070 metres in a rugged mountainous area.
During the inspection, the Deputy Commissioner assessed the lake’s water level, surrounding terrain and potential downstream flow routes. Officials also examined the possibilities of safely controlling or reducing the increased water level and discussed an action plan for dealing with any emergency arising from a sudden release of water.
A 15-member team from 10 departments accompanied the Deputy Commissioner and carried out a detailed inspection of the site. The team gathered information about the lake’s present condition and the geographical characteristics of the surrounding area. Because of the difficult terrain, members of the inspection team stayed overnight at a base camp below the lake. Bhadana returned to Keylong on Tuesday, while the other members were expected to return by Wednesday afternoon.
The administration has placed continuous monitoring of Ghepang Lake and its surrounding area among its priorities. A team of experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has already studied the lake and nearby areas as part of efforts to assess potential risks.
According to preliminary assessments cited by the district administration, in the event of a sudden release of a large volume of water, downstream populated areas could potentially be reached in approximately 22 minutes. However, taking into account the actual terrain and other practical conditions observed at the site, officials have also assessed that the water could potentially reach vulnerable areas in as little as five minutes.
The short potential response window has placed greater emphasis on strengthening evacuation plans, public awareness, mock drills and rapid-response mechanisms. The administration is working to identify vulnerable areas and ensure that residents can be moved to safer locations quickly if an emergency situation develops.
Alongside evacuation planning, authorities are working towards establishing an early warning system at Ghepang Lake. The proposed system is expected to continuously monitor the lake’s water level and other important parameters, provide real-time information and support timely warnings in the event of dangerous changes.
A system developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, has already been tested at Sissu Lake, and the experience is expected to support efforts to strengthen early-warning capabilities in the region.
The administration is also planning closer coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for periodic scientific assessment of glaciers and mountain slopes surrounding Ghepang Lake. Officials have stressed the importance of monitoring the stability of the glaciers and mountainous terrain because of rapidly changing conditions in high-altitude areas.
The latest inspection involved personnel from several departments, including the Forest Department, Health Department, Border Roads Organisation, Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards, Jal Shakti Department and Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited, among others.
The administration said the focus will remain on early preparedness, continuous monitoring, scientific assessment and inter-departmental coordination. The inspection is part of a preventive approach aimed at identifying potential risks in advance and preparing practical measures to reduce the impact of any possible GLOF event.
Authorities said monitoring of Ghepang Lake and its potential downstream impact areas will continue, with precautionary and disaster-risk reduction measures to be strengthened as necessary.
