Only 25 out of around 15k glaciers being monitored in country, say experts

DEHRADUN: The disaster in Chamoli district has put light on the lack of monitoring of glaciers in the Indian Himalayan region due to various challenges.

Scientists from Dehradunbased Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology said on an average 25-30 glaciers were being monitored across the country that has around 10,000-15,000 glaciers.

SK Rai, senior scientist with the glaciology and hydrology department of Wadia Institute, said: “Of the total 10,000-15,000 glaciers that are situated in India, intense and regular monitoring is done for maximum 25 glaciers across the Indian Himalayan region. A minuscule percentage of total glaciers are studied but there is constant effort to increase this number.”

In Uttarakhand, less than 10 glaciers are being monitored, whereas the state is home to around 1,400 glaciers. In the state, Gangotri glacier, Chorabari glacier, Dunagiri glacier, Dokriyani glacier and Pindari glaciers are being monitored by scientists from Wadia Institute.

Listing the challenges in studying and monitoring glaciers, Rai said there were issues like lack of resource and good quality equipment which include proper snow kits for scientists which cost up to lakhs, need for automatic weather systems, good infrastructure like huts, good quality ropes; logistical issues like proper drivers and vehicles. He also said regular permissions from departments concerned like forests or border areas for studying the glaciers are few of the major problems.

“After fulfilling these challenges only can we visit the areas and stay for 15-20 days to collect data. Another very important reason behind the lack of studies on glaciers is that our country has very less institutes where glaciology is taught. Other topics of sciences are may be taught in 500 or more institutes but glaciology is taught in barely five institutes. As glaciers are the main source of fresh water, more research is needed in this field,” said Rai.

Kalachand Sain, director of Wadia Institute, said inaccessibility to the glacial regions was another reason due to which not much studies were conducted. “All mapping of glaciers have been done through satellite data, but glaciers are all in high-altitude and inaccessible regions, so for monitoring those areas automatically becomes difficult,” said Sain.

He said the area where the disaster took place in Chamoli, there are 25 glaciers of which only a few are being monitored.