Kelang: In view of the potential disaster risk posed by the rising water level of the Ghepan Glacial Lake, the Lahaul-Spiti district administration has stepped up efforts to further strengthen monitoring and precautionary preparedness. In this sequence, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Lahaul-Spiti, Kiran Bhadana, on Tuesday personally visited Ghepan Lake, located in a remote mountainous area approximately 14 kilometres above Sissu, and carried out a detailed on-site assessment of the situation.
The district administration has already been preparing at various levels for the monitoring of the lake and the potential Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk. DC Kiran Bhadana’s visit was particularly significant, as she personally reached the lake after trekking nearly 14 kilometres on foot through difficult geographical and adverse conditions to understand the actual situation on the ground.
She observed the lake’s water level, the surrounding terrain, and the possible water flow path on site. She also held discussions with officials on what practical and safe measures could be adopted to control or reduce the rising water level, and what kind of action plan could be followed in the event of any such potential situation.
During the visit, the DC also gathered information from officials and staff present at the site regarding the lake’s current status and the geographical conditions of the area. She emphasised that the concerned departments should work in close coordination and assess every important fact and potential risk related to the lake from a scientific and technical perspective. Her decision to personally reach the lake also reflects the administration’s seriousness, alertness, and commitment to understanding the situation at the ground level with regard to the potential disaster risk.
The inspection team comprised a total of 15 officials and staff from various departments. The team reached the lake area and carried out the necessary inspection and information-gathering work there. Owing to the extremely difficult terrain, arrangements were made for the remaining team members to stay overnight at a base camp below the lake. DC Kiran Bhadana returned the same day (Tuesday) after the inspection, while the other team members returned to Kelang by Wednesday afternoon.
It is noteworthy that Ghepan Lake is situated at an altitude of approximately 4,070 metres, and the district administration has been giving priority to continuous monitoring of its water level and other important parameters. In recent days, the administration has also worked towards strengthening scientific study, monitoring, and an early warning system in view of the potential risks associated with the lake. A expert team from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has already studied the lake and its surrounding area.
Sharing her assessment, DC Kiran Bhadana said that a large number of glaciers and mountains exist around Ghepan Lake, and regular monitoring of their stability is extremely essential, as last month’s tragedy in Nepal also underlined the seriousness of the potential dangers arising from glacial instability. In this context, coordination will be established with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure periodic scientific assessment and monitoring of the stability of the glaciers and mountain areas around Ghepan Lake.
She stated that according to assessments carried out at various levels so far, if in a disaster situation the lake water suddenly flows downward, preliminary assessments suggest that a large volume of water could reach populated areas in about 22 minutes. However, given the geographical and practical conditions on the ground, the administration’s assessment is that the water could reach populated areas in a much shorter time — possibly within about five minutes.
She said that in view of this potential risk, the disaster management authority must pay special attention to preparing an effective evacuation plan for people living in vulnerable areas, conducting regular awareness programmes and mock drills, and further strengthening the rapid response system. She added that by ensuring a clear and practical arrangement to move people to safe locations in time, the impact of a potential disaster can be reduced to a considerable extent.
The DC stated that the district administration is also working towards installing an early warning system at Ghepan Lake. The proposed system is aimed at continuously monitoring important parameters, including the lake’s water level, providing real-time information, and helping issue timely warnings in the event of any potential threat. A system developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, has already been tested at Sissu Lake.
DC Kiran Bhadana said that in dealing with any potential risk related to the lake, prior preparation, continuous monitoring, scientific assessment, and better coordination among departments — along with clearly defined responsibilities for all concerned departments — are the most important pillars for reducing disaster risk, especially given the rapidly changing natural conditions in high-altitude remote areas.
The district administration’s on-site inspection is an important step towards identifying risks in advance and preparing a practical plan for their mitigation, rather than waiting for a potential disaster situation to arise. The administration will continue to maintain constant vigil over Ghepan Lake and its potential impact zone, and necessary precautionary measures will continue to be taken in the future as well.
The team that visited Ghepan Lake included, along with DC Kiran Bhadana: Project Officer, ITDP, Ashwani Kumar Sharma; Deputy Forest Range Officer Leela Mani; Medical Officers Dr. Sushma and Dr. Vikrant Negi; Officer-in-Charge, BRO 94 RCC, Captain Hariom Sharan; Leading Fireman and Officer-in-Charge, Fire Station Kelang, Ratan Chand; Home Guard Fireman Chhering Angrup; Junior Office Assistant, ITDP Office, Ajit Singh; Junior Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Pankaj Mahajan; Pump Attendant, Jal Shakti Department Kelang, Arvind Kumar; Senior Assistant, HPSEBL, Sanjay Kumar; Junior Assistant, HPSEBL, Robin; Forest Guard Balveer Singh; and Personal Security Officer to the DC, Ishwar Das.
