Leh, Sept 02: More than 170 glacial lakes in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir union territories are showing worrying signs of expansion, raising fears of sudden flooding disasters in the fragile Himalayan region. The Central Water Commission (CWC), in its latest monthly monitoring report for June 2025, has flagged the two Union Territories among the worst-affected by the rapidly changing glacial landscape, reports appearing in the media suggest.
According to the CWC, of the 432 glacial lakes within India that now require “vigorous monitoring for disaster purposes,” 120 are located in Ladakh and 57 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Together, they account for more than 40 per cent of all expanding lakes outside Arunachal Pradesh, which tops the list with 197.
The CWC report said the water spread area of 1,435 glacial lakes and water bodies in the Himalayas increased in June 2025 alone, while 1,008 showed a decrease.
“Glacial lakes in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are expanding at a concerning pace, with serious implications for downstream populations in case of sudden outbursts,” the Commission warned.
The report also highlighted the long-term trend of glacial retreat and lake expansion, noting that the total glacial lake area in India has risen by over 30 per cent in the past 14 years — from 1,917 hectares in 2011 to 2,508 hectares by June 2025.
The findings come at a time of widespread weather-related disasters across the Himalayan belt. In Jammu and Kashmir, persistent downpours in Katra have forced the suspension of the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage for seven consecutive days, while a landslide last week claimed 34 lives on the yatra route.
In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, at least seven people died in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, while Punjab has seen repeated spells of flooding in recent days.
The Commission has called for urgent preparedness, recommending real-time monitoring systems, satellite-based alerts and early-warning mechanisms for downstream communities, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) pose a major hazard. It has also urged closer coordination between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and state disaster management agencies, as well as cross-border cooperation with Nepal, Bhutan and China.
“The Himalayan region is facing important challenges in coping with the adverse effects of climate change. Shrinking glaciers and expanding glacial lakes are among the most visible and dangerous impacts of global warming,” the report concluded.
