NDMA studies Nepal hanging glacier collapse to strengthen Himalayan disaster mitigation

Gist A devastating flash flood in Nepal, likely triggered by the collapse of a hanging glacier into the Bhote Koshi river , has prompted India's National Disaster Management Authority NDMA to initiate a comprehensive study of the event. The disaster underscores the extreme vulnerability of the Himalayan region to sudden glaciological hazards, which often unfold with little warning. For civil services aspirants, understanding the mechanism of such ice avalanches is crucial, as India shares identical topographical risks and relies on proactive mitigation strategies to prevent mass-casualty events. Background A hanging glacier is a body of ice that terminates abruptly at the edge of a cliff or steep slope; when it becomes unstable, massive chunks of ice and rock can break off and plummet, triggering catastrophic ice avalanches and downstream flooding. In response to similar vulnerabilities, the NDMA launched the National GLOF Risk Management Programme following the deadly Chamoli disaster in 2021 . The programme aims to structurally strengthen the boundaries of vulnerable glacial lakes and install early warning systems across four hilly states Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and…