Scientists are intrigued by the flash floods that occurred in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, which resulted in the death of 18 people and around 200 people missing on Sunday, as the glacial regionis said to be more stable and such freak events are least expected in the middle of a winter season.
“Nobody really knows what exactly went wrong there. We were not expecting this to happen at this time of the season and that also in this area actually,” said Thamban Meloth, a senior scientist at the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
Apart from the human casualties, the flash floods near Joshimath in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand resulted in the partial or total destruction of two hydropower projects in Rishiganga and Tapovan.
Avalanche
Glacial lake outbursts can happen in a climate warming scenario when glaciers start retreating. This produces more water, leading to the formation of lakes. Such lakes are vulnerable when there is an avalanche or a cloud…