Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Sep 03
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of Himalayan states and Jammu and Kashmir against the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches, with the Centre stressing continuous monitoring, stronger early-warning systems and preparedness at the district and community levels.
The meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by the Chief Secretaries and State Disaster Management Authorities of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, besides senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Water Commission (CWC), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE).
The meeting reviewed the evolving risk of GLOFs across the Himalayan region, with particular emphasis on early warning, monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and snow-covered areas, identification of high-risk locations and potential flow paths, timely dissemination of alerts, evacuation preparedness and strengthening of response mechanisms.
The states and Jammu and Kashmir presented their respective preparedness and mitigation strategies, including measures being undertaken to monitor vulnerable glacial lakes, strengthen early-warning systems, improve last-mile dissemination of alerts, undertake flow-path planning, enhance community preparedness and deploy response resources in vulnerable areas.
State and Union Territory-specific vulnerabilities and preparedness measures were discussed in detail, with emphasis on ensuring that mitigation measures are translated into concrete action at the district and local levels.
Mohan emphasised the need for continuous and proactive monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and avalanche-prone areas, particularly during periods of heightened risk.
He also advised the states and Jammu and Kashmir to maintain close coordination among state agencies, district administrations and scientific and technical institutions so that warnings are acted upon promptly and effectively.
The Home Secretary stressed that preparedness for GLOFs and snow avalanches must move beyond response-oriented measures towards risk-informed planning, preventive mitigation and preparedness at the community level.
The states and Jammu and Kashmir were advised to regularly review their preparedness plans, identify gaps in early-warning and evacuation arrangements and undertake necessary corrective measures in advance of any extreme event.
Mohan also highlighted the need for the states to expedite the progress of GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned for them by the Central Government in 2024.
The meeting concluded with directions for continued inter-agency coordination, regular sharing of risk information and strengthening of early-warning and response mechanisms to minimise loss of life and property in vulnerable Himalayan areas.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the review assumes particular significance given the region’s exposure to both high-altitude avalanche-prone areas and the risks associated with glacial lakes and rapidly changing conditions in the Himalayan environment.
