·       GLOFs are disaster events caused by the sudden discharge of water from glacial lakes, primarily occurring due to glacial melting and subsequent lake formation.

·       GLOFs can be triggered by various events such as glacial calving, avalanches, landslides, or unstable boundaries around glacial lakes.

Reasons:

·       Soaring global temperatures, resulting in glacier melting, have led to a rise in GLOF events in regions like the Himalayas.

·       Rapid infrastructure development in vulnerable areas has exacerbated the risk of GLOF incidents, as it increases human presence in high-risk zones.

 Impact:

·       GLOFs can result in devastating consequences, including submerging valleys, destroying infrastructure like roads and bridges, and causing loss of life and livelihoods.

Geographical distribution

·       GLOFs are commonly associated with glacial regions, particularly in mountainous areas with significant glacial activity, such as the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps.

·       Since 1980, GLOFs have become more frequent in the Himalayan region, particularly in southeastern Tibet and the China-Nepal border area.

·       The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 188 glacial lakes in the Himalayan states, including thirteen in Uttarakhand, as potentially hazardous due to heavy rainfall.