Sikkim completes scientific assessment of high-risk glacial lakes

High up in the mountains of a place called Sikkim in India, there are lakes made of melting ice and snow.

Sometimes, the water in these lakes can suddenly burst out, like a giant water balloon popping.

This is called a glacial lake outburst flood, and it can wash away roads, bridges and even villages.

To help keep people safe, the Sikkim government sent a team of scientists to look at the riskiest lakes.

The team climbed high into the mountains in an area called Mangan district to study the lakes up close.

They measured how deep and wide the lakes are, studied the rocks and ground around them, and checked the weather.

They used special tools and machines to gather this information.

Helpful soldiers and police officers from the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police went with them to keep them safe.

The scientists will use all this information to predict which lakes are dangerous and how to protect the towns and villages below.

This way, people can be warned and prepared before a flood ever happens.