On Sikkim Flash Floods, Parliamentary Committee's "Severe Shortage" Warning

A report submitted to Parliament on March 29 noted Sikkim has 694 glacial lakes but only eight flood forecasting stations; three to monitor water levels and five for water inflows.

Sikkim was hit by a devastating flash flood early Wednesday - in which 40 people were killed and a critical 1200 MW hydroelectric power station was destroyed. The floods were triggered by a cloudburst over a glacial lake located over 17,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas. Over the past three days, as the Sikkim government works to rescue people, restore communications, and rebuild infrastructure, it seems there were multiple warnings of disasters like the GLOF event at the South Lhonak Lake.

On Friday NDTV learnt a Parliamentary Committee had red-flagged the "severe shortage of meteorological and monitoring stations in Himalayan regions". Parliament was told on March 29 Sikkim has 694 glacial lakes and eight flood forecasting stations; three for water levels and five for inflows.

The report - "Glacier Management in the Country: Monitoring of Glaciers/Lakes, Including Glacial Lake Outbursts Leading to Flashfloods, in the Himalayan Region" - warned Parliament the Himalayan-Karakoram region is warming at a faster rate (by 0.5 degrees C) than the global mean.