Himalayan blunder in Uttarakhand Policymakers need to actively engage with scientists to build a network of information based on land-use changes, hazard surveillance, weather monitoring and forecasting systems
The unfortunate disaster that struck Rishiganga-Dhauliganga Valley in early February is a sad reminder of the consequences of undermining the natural vulnerability of the Himalayas. We should not delude ourselves into believing that this is the last disastrous Himalayan event that caused losses to life and property, including two hydropower plants. In an article in
Nature in 2013, yours truly had cautioned that rising temperatures in the Himalayas raise the threat of glacial lake outburst floods. Of the 8,800 glacial lakes in the Himalayas, more than 200 have been classified as dangerous. Himalayan nations were urged to build an international network to monitor risks such as t