JAMMU / NEW DELHI, Jul 29: The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has sanctioned a research project worth Rs 91.2 lakh to the University of Kashmir and IIT Roorkee to study the current and future risks posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) across the Indian Himalayan Region.
The project, approved in 2022 under the Hydrology and Cryosphere Programme, is titled “Identifying Current and Future GLOF Risk over Contrasting Topographic and Climate Zones of Indian Himalaya Using Earth Observation Data and Modelling.”
The study aims to develop a comprehensive scientific approach to investigate glacial lakes over different time scales and assess their hazard potential using physically based models across diverse climatic, geomorphological, and topographic regions of the Himalayas. The research is expected to improve the understanding of glacial lake formation and enhance the prediction of flood hazards, thereby helping protect downstream populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
According to the Ministry, a total of Rs 62.03 lakh has been released for the project during the past three years to support its implementation.
The information was provided by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The project is expected to contribute significantly to disaster risk reduction and strengthen climate resilience in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region through the use of advanced Earth observation technologies and scientific modelling.