Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Himalayan glacial lakes face urgent risk as melting accelerates
Scientists studied about 2,000 glacial lakes in the Himalayas.
They found that nine to twelve lakes may be especially dangerous.
These lakes are growing as glaciers melt.
Tourism can add pollution and dust to the ice.
Dark dust absorbs energy from the sun and can make melting happen faster.
Warmer conditions can also melt permafrost, which is frozen ground.
When the frozen ground melts, the land above it can become unstable.
One research group found more lakes needing urgent attention than the national disaster agency did.
IIT Mandi studied about 2,000 glacial lakes and classified nine to twelve as critical.
The National Disaster Management Authority has identified four lakes needing immediate attention.
Lakes in Himachal Pradesh have expanded by 30% to 60% over the past decade.
IIT Mandi’s Dericks P Shukla linked melting to climate change, tourism, pollution and dust deposits.
Shukla said permafrost melting can destabilize terrain and may have contributed to instability before Nepal’s August 26 flash flood.
- Who
- The study was conducted by IIT Mandi, with findings discussed by Dericks P Shukla.
- What
- Researchers assessed about 2,000 glacial lakes and identified nine to twelve as critical because of their expansion and associated risks.
- When
- The lakes in Himachal Pradesh expanded by 30% to 60% over the last 10 years; the study’s exact date was not stated.
- Where
- The study concerns the Himalayan region, including lakes in Himachal Pradesh; Shukla also referred to Nepal.
- Why
- Glaciers and permafrost are melting due to climate change, while tourism-related pollution and dust deposits can intensify glacial melting and terrain instability.
IIT Mandi assessment
National disaster assessment
Number of lakes needing urgent attention
IIT Mandi assessment
IIT Mandi identified at least nine critical lakes, with the report also describing the number as nine to twelve.
National disaster assessment
The National Disaster Management Authority identified four lakes requiring immediate attention.
Tourism and connectivity
IIT Mandi assessment
Dericks P Shukla said rising tourism, tunnels and year-round visitor access have increased pollution and dust deposits on glaciers, accelerating melting.
National disaster assessment
The article does not provide a contrary assessment from the National Disaster Management Authority on tourism or connectivity.
- Lakes studied
- About 2,000 glacial lakes
- IIT Mandi assessment
- Nine to twelve lakes classified as critical
- National assessment
- The National Disaster Management Authority identified four lakes needing immediate attention
- Himachal Pradesh expansion
- Glacial lakes expanded by 30% to 60% over the last 10 years
- Reported causes
- Glacial melting, climate change, tourism, pollution and dust deposits
- Terrain risk
- Permafrost melting can cause the layer above it to move and destabilize terrain
- Nepal flash flood
- Shukla referred to an August 26 flash flood that reportedly caused 1,127 deaths