Archive · 28 Jan 2026
IIT Guwahati Identifies 492 Himalayan Regions At Risk Of Glacial Lakes
Researchers at IIT Guwahati found 492 places in the Himalayas where new glacial lakes might form.
These lakes can suddenly burst and cause big floods, which can harm people and buildings far away.
The researchers used many pictures from Google Earth and special computer programs to find these risky areas.
They discovered that certain things, like nearby lakes and melting glaciers, make these floods more likely.
This information can help people build safer roads and power plants and warn communities about possible floods.
It can also help other places with mountains and glaciers around the world.
IIT Guwahati researchers identified 492 regions in the Himalayas at risk of glacial lake formation.
Glacial lakes can suddenly collapse, causing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) that affect downstream areas.
The study used 12,924 Google Earth images and machine learning models to predict high-risk zones.
Key predictors include neighboring lakes, cirques, gentle slopes, and retreating glaciers.
The framework can guide early-warning systems, infrastructure planning, and water resource management.
- Who
- Researchers at IIT Guwahati
- What
- Identified 492 regions in the Himalayas at risk of glacial lake formation
- When
- Study conducted between 2018 and 2022
- Where
- Parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India, and neighboring regions of Tibet
- Why
- To predict and mitigate the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
- Research Institute
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati
- Number of High-Risk Regions
- 492
- Study Period
- 2018-2022
- Data Source
- 12,924 Google Earth images
- Key Predictors
- Neighboring lakes, cirques, gentle slopes, retreating glaciers
- Study Area
- Parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India, and neighboring regions of Tibet
- Elevation Range
- 340 to 7,252 meters
