Saralnama
More than 400 glacial lakes in India are expanding, according to the Central Water Commission's June 2025 report, which monitored 2,843 water bodies across the Himalayan region. Of these, 1,435 lakes showed expansion, with Arunachal Pradesh recording the highest number at 197, followed by Ladakh (120), Jammu and Kashmir (57), Sikkim (47), Himachal Pradesh (6), and Uttarakhand (5). The total area of glacial lakes in India has increased by over 30% in the past decade, from 1,917 hectares in 2011 to 2,508 hectares in June 2025. The report highlights the risk of sudden floods due to these expanding lakes and recommends real-time monitoring, satellite alerts, and early-warning systems. It also calls for enhanced coordination among the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the National Disaster Management Authority, state agencies, and neighboring countries, as many lakes straddle borders but feed Indian rivers. The report links the expansion of glacial lakes and shrinking glaciers to climate change impacts in the Himalayan region, emphasizing the need for urgent preparedness amid recent severe weather events causing landslides and floods in several states. (Updated 3 Sep 2025, 19:45 IST; source: link)