sikkim-glacial-study-warns-of-flood-risks-offers-redressal

A multidisciplinary team, engaged in an important expedition to assess the glacial flood risks at Sikkim’s Shako Chho lake, has completed a comprehensive study aimed at mitigating potential flood hazards at the high-altitude water body.

 

The team, undeterred by freezing temperatures, carried out a gruelling five-hour uphill trek, climbing from 13,000 feet to 17,000 feet, an official release reported.

 

Upon reaching the partially frozen lake, the team noted a reduction of approximately seven feet in the water level compared to their previous visit on September 5, 2024.

 

This drop suggests that the natural seepage of water through the terminal moraine is functioning effectively, thereby lowering the immediate flood risk.

 

Geologists from the Department of Mines and Geology in Sikkim conducted a subsurface geophysical study of the right lateral moraine using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT).

 

The team benefited from clear weather, which allowed them to observe the lake, the Khangchengyao Massif, hanging glaciers, and the lateral and terminal moraines in detail.

 

This rare opportunity enabled the team to assess a range of hazards, including avalanches, landslides, rockfalls, and the stability of the moraines.

 

Notably, the area at the base of the hanging glaciers is composed of hard bedrock, which could absorb the impact of avalanches, providing a natural buffer.

 

The return trek was equally strenuous, with temperatures plummeting to minus 7 degrees Celsius.

 

Some team members suffered from symptoms of high-altitude sickness, prompting a decision to extend their stay at Thangu for an extra day to acclimatise before continuing to the next phase of the expedition at Muguthang, situated at 14,000 feet.

 

The team expressed their profound gratitude to the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for their steadfast support and hospitality throughout the mission.

 

This expedition marks a crucial step in understanding glacial-lake dynamics and mitigating risks associated with climate change in high-altitude regions.

 

The results of this study are expected to play a significant role in protecting downstream communities and preserving fragile ecosystems, the release added.