Himalayan 'Tsunami' Threat: IIT Roorkee Warns 9.3 Million at Risk from Glacial Lake Outbursts

• IIT Roorkee researchers warn of a 'Himalayan Tsunami' from rapidly expanding glacial lakes, threatening 9.3 million people.
• The area of glacial lakes in the High Mountain Asia (HMA) region increased by 5.5% between 2016 and 2024, with over 31,000 lakes identified.
• A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs when natural moraine dams burst, releasing massive water flows that carry debris and destroy everything.
• The 2013 Kedarnath tragedy and 2023 Sikkim floods are examples of GLOF events, highlighting the destructive potential.
• Scientists used high-resolution satellite data from NASA, USGS, and ESA to monitor these remote lakes, identifying even small ones.