A recent report by the Central Water Commission (CWC) indicates a significant expansion in the area of glacial lakes across the Indian Himalayas. Monitoring of these lakes is crucial due to the increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
The CWC's report reveals that the total glacial lake area in India has increased by over 30% since 2011. Specifically, the area has grown from 1,917 hectares in 2011 to 2,508 hectares as of June 2025. This represents a 30.83% increase. The study considered 55 glacial lakes for this interpretation out of 100 Glacial Lakes. The remaining lakes include 40 SDC lakes which have no inventory details as well as lakes which were not analysed/have been merged during the month of June, 2025.
Across the broader Himalayan region, the expansion is also notable. One report indicates that glacial lakes and other water bodies in the Himalayas have expanded their surface area by 10.81% from 2011 to 2024. In India alone, the expansion rate has been even more significant, with a 33.7% increase in the area of glacial lakes over the same period. Another report states that the area of glacial lakes in India expanded from 1,962 hectares in 2011 to 2,623 hectares in 2024, a 33.7% increase. Across the broader Himalayan region, including neighboring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, and China, the total lake area grew by 10.81%, from 533,401 hectares in 2011 to 591,108 hectares in 2024.
The CWC has identified 67 lakes in India that experienced over a 40% increase in surface area, categorizing them as high-risk for GLOFs. The regions with the most notable expansions include Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh accounts for the highest number of expanding lakes (197), followed by Ladakh (120), Jammu and Kashmir (57), Sikkim (47), Himachal Pradesh (6) and Uttarakhand (5).
The expansion of glacial lakes is attributed to the accelerated melting of glaciers due to rising temperatures, posing significant threats to downstream communities, infrastructure, and biodiversity. The shrinking of mountain glaciers and expansion of glacial lakes are primary indicators of climate change in the Himalayan environment.
In light of these findings, the CWC is advocating for vigorous monitoring of these glacial lakes. The commission has flagged 432 glacial lakes (out of 681) located within India as per Glacial Lake Atlas 2023 that display an increase in water spread area during June 2025, emphasizing the need for disaster preparedness. The CWC recommends the installation of real-time monitoring systems, satellite-based alerts, and early-warning mechanisms for downstream communities. The CWC began monitoring glacial lakes in 2009 and recorded 2,028 glacial lakes and water bodies larger than 10 hectares in its 2011 inventory. They are utilizing advanced tools like remote sensing, satellite imagery, and cloud platforms such as Google Earth Engine to monitor 902 critical water bodies.
