Indian Himalayan flood turns deadly after glacier collapse, experts warn
Glacial Meltdown Sparks Devastating Flood in Uttarakhand
Experts attribute the catastrophic deluge that engulfed the Himalayan town of Dharali to a rapidly melting glacier amplified by climate change.
Magnitude of Loss
- At least four fatalities confirmed; 50+ missing.
- Wave of mud and debris obliterated narrow mountain valley.
- Video footage shows residents running before being swept away.
Root Causes Dissected
Government officials cited an intense “cloudburst” of rain, but specialists contend that prolonged rains had already weakened the ground, making the flood an amplified trigger.
P.K. Joshi of Jawaharlal Nehru University explained the flood likely resulted from the collapse of debris known as a moraine that had dammed a glacier‑retreat lake.
- Sudden high‑energy flash flood suspected as primary trigger.
- Unstable sediment zones upstream contributed to the rapid surge.
Unfavorable satellite data leaves the exact source of the debris indeterminate.
Additional Expert Opinions
- Safi Ahsan Rizvi, National Disaster Management Authority adviser, labeled the cause a “glacio‑fluvial debris landslide.”
- Sandip Tanu Mandal, glaciologist at Mobius Foundation, pointed to a possible glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) produced by heavy water accumulation due to increased melting and rainfall.
Mandal noted that the immediate rain volume before the flood was modest compared to the vast watershed water, suggesting the source was a collapsing lake rather than the rainfall itself.
Broader Himalayan Hazards
Himalayan glaciers, critical to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn.
Permafrost softening heightens landslide risk, and rapid downstream development has multiplied damage severity.
Joshi said the disaster underscores the complex, interlinked nature of Himalayan hazards and the amplified impact of land‑use patterns in the floodplain.
