Expanding Ghepan Lake Poses Flood Risk to Himachal Settlements

A study warns that expanding Ghepan Lake in Himachal Pradesh could flood 34 downstream settlements. The lake has grown nearly threefold over three decades, driven by glacier melt and climate change. Sissu village is at highest risk. Local authorities are installing early warning systems and training residents for evacuation.

Ghepan Lake in Himachal Pradesh, a glacial body sitting at around 13,580 feet, has expanded significantly over the last thirty years, posing a potential flood threat to 34 settlements downstream. A study from the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and ISRO has highlighted the lake's alarming growth from 36.49 hectares in 1989 to 101.30 hectares in 2022.

This expansion is attributed to climate-induced glacier melt and increasing temperatures in the Himalayas. Scientists warn of a potential Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) that could severely impact villages like Sissu, marked as highly vulnerable. In response, Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana stated that an early warning system is already operational at Sissu Lake with plans for further systems, emphasizing the focus on evacuation and local training to minimize risks.

Authorities are complementing this technology with community readiness programs, recognizing that timely evacuations could be crucial in a flooding scenario. Bhadana highlighted the importance of preparedness and informed that the district administrators are in continual coordination with national agencies to establish risk assessments and response strategies.

Experts caution that heavy rains, avalanches, or glacier collapses could set off a destructive flood, underscoring the need for swift actions to mitigate such events' dangers.