SRINAGAR, Sep 4 (Agencies): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed Himalayan states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, to intensify monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and avalanche-prone areas and strengthen early-warning and evacuation mechanisms to minimise loss of life and property.
The directions were issued by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan while reviewing preparedness for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches at a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.
The MHA asked the states and UTs to maintain continuous and proactive surveillance of high-risk areas, particularly during periods of heightened risk, and ensure that alerts are disseminated promptly to the authorities and communities concerned.
It also directed them to review existing preparedness plans, identify gaps in early-warning and evacuation arrangements and undertake corrective measures ahead of any extreme event.
The meeting reviewed the evolving GLOF risk across the Himalayan region, including vulnerable glacial lakes, snow-covered areas, potential flow paths, high-risk locations, evacuation preparedness and response mechanisms.
Mohan stressed the need to move beyond response-oriented measures towards risk-informed planning, preventive mitigation and preparedness at the community level.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretaries and representatives of the State Disaster Management Authorities of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, along with senior officials from the MHA, National Disaster Management Authority, Central Water Commission, India Meteorological Department and Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment.
The Home Secretary also called for expediting GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned by the Central Government for the states in 2024.
The meeting concluded with directions for continued inter-agency coordination, regular sharing of risk information and further strengthening of early-warning and response systems in vulnerable Himalayan areas.