DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand is preparing to deploy satellite imagery, remote-sensing tools, drones and sensor-based systems to monitor potentially dangerous glacial lakes in real time, as climate change and unstable Himalayan conditions sharpen concerns over sudden flooding in vulnerable valleys.
The proposed network will track changes in lake water levels, surface area, storage and other unusual indicators. Early-warning systems are also planned in at-risk zones to ensure alerts reach downstream communities before an emergency develops.
At a review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday, officials assessed the condition of glacial lakes and the threats they pose.
The government said scientific surveillance had become essential because warming temperatures and shifting Himalayan geology can rapidly alter high-altitude water bodies.
Officials said a sudden rise in water levels or expansion of a glacial lake could signal future danger, including a possible outburst flood.
Integrating satellite data with field observations and drone surveys would help identify such changes faster and improve evacuation planning for downstream settlements.
Uttarakhand's Disaster Management Minister Madan Kaushik directed departments to coordinate with scientific institutions and technical agencies to build a reliable monitoring grid across remote terrain.
“Early-warning systems will be installed wherever required so that any abnormal development is detected in time and people in potentially affected areas are alerted well in advance,” Kaushik said.
“Modern technology can make surveillance of glacial lakes in inaccessible Himalayan regions far more effective.”
The focus, officials added, will be on converting scientific inputs into actionable warnings, backed by clear communication protocols at the district and village levels. Control rooms will remain operational around the clock as agencies monitor both mountain hazards and the monsoon situation.
The meeting also reviewed persistent rainfall across the state, river levels, blocked roads, landslide-hit stretches, rescue operations and disruptions to electricity, drinking water and communications. With further rain forecast, the entire disaster-management machinery has been placed on round-the-clock alert.
Authorities were told to pre-position excavators, Poclain machines and technical crews at landslide-prone sites and locations repeatedly cut off by debris. Pumps and drainage equipment will be kept ready in waterlogging hotspots, while extra teams will restore essential utilities and arrange temporary alternatives.
District administrations will stock foodgrain, medicines, fuel and other necessities in remote and sensitive areas where road links are vulnerable. The NDRF, SDRF, police, health, public works, power, water and civil supplies departments have been asked to maintain close coordination.
Pilgrimage and general travel will be regulated strictly on the basis of weather forecasts and real-time road conditions. If intense rain or closures make routes unsafe, travellers will be halted at secure locations, provided basic facilities and allowed to proceed only after conditions improve.
