Lake raises fears of flash floods

SRINAGAR: The famous Zanskar river in Ladakh has been blocked for more than three weeks after a landslide created an artificial lake in the mountains. Locals fear flash floods if the ice melts, threatening the lives of 4000 people living in the low-lying areas. As a precautionary measure the authorities suspended the famed Chadder Trek that was a source of income for the locals.

A multi-agency group of engineers visited the site and washed its hands of any intervention. Now the governor’s office in Jammu and Kashmir is seeking formal help from the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) in minimising the losses once the melting starts. Two observing stations have been set up to communicate changes in the glaciated body. MP Thupstan Chhewang has written to the central government seeking help to avoid an “ecological disaster” while Raj Bhawan has sought immediate NDMF help.