Indian Glacial Lake Floods: A Wake-Up Call for Early Warning Systems

Scientists and government authorities were in the process of developing an early warning system for glacial floods at Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, India when the lake broke its banks, causing deadly floods. The system, which included a camera to monitor the lake's level and weather instruments, could have provided more time for evacuation. However, the camera lost power in late September, and the warning system was still in development. As climate change leads to the melting of glaciers, the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) is increasing in high mountain regions. India plans to install early warning systems at several other glacial lakes in the future.