Sikkim’s Lhonak lake still at risk of GLOF, floods: Experts

New Delhi: The risk of another glacier lake outburst flood downstream of South Lhonak lake in Sikkim is still real, glaciologists and expertswarned, recommending that the glacier should be monitored effectively. Experts warn about the risk of another glacier lake outburst flood downstream of South Lhonak lake in Sikkim. According to glaciologists at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, a large chunk of ice may have fallen from the glacier into the lake creating waves that toppled the moraine dam leading to a GLOF and causing severe flash floods downstream on October 4 that killed around 91 with many still missing, but there is still a lot of water left in the lake. Long-term strategies include identifying locations vulnerable to GLOF using computer simulation, monitoring lake expansion, determining structural strength of the moraine dam, maintaining safe water level in the lake through siphoning, and determining future glacier lake sites using remote sensing techniques.