Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding- Causes, Concerns and NDMA Guidelines
February 7th, 2021 saw the flooding of the Alaknanda River system, claiming the lives of over 60 people. Many others have gone missing and 2 hydroelectric power projects have been washed away. Though the exact cause of the flood is still being looked into, one of the possible causes is a phenomenon called glacier lake outburst flooding (GLOF). Though the region has experienced GLOFs in the past, this recent event is a cause for concern as it has occurred even before the end of winter– a period that is generally considered safe in terms of GLOF risks.