Warming Himalayas Put Uttarakhand’s Unstable Glaciers Under Spotlight
What Happened
A new study identified 219 ‘hanging glaciers’ spread across 71.7 sq km in Uttarakhand’s Alaknanda basin, warning that rapid Himalayan warming is making these steep-slope ice formations increasingly unstable. Scientists say nearly one-third of the hanging ice volume could be vulnerable to sudden collapses, potentially triggering avalanches, flash floods and downstream damage.
Key Takeaways
Researchers are calling for closer monitoring and stronger disaster preparedness, as climate change raises the risk of glacier-related hazards in the Himalayan region.