India’s Uttarakhand has intensified surveillance of its Himalayan terrain after a glacial collapse near the Nepal-China border triggered deadly floods and mudflows, with 13 glacial lakes in the Indian state identified as highly sensitive.

At a high-level review meeting in Dehradun on the risks posed by glacial lakes on August 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami gave the instruction to enhance the surveillance.

Dhami ordered the state disaster management authorities to conduct regular scientific monitoring and comprehensive surveys of the identified lakes and strengthen early-warning systems in vulnerable areas.

He directed Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to assess changes in lake size and water levels, the stability of surrounding terrain and potential downstream risk zones.

The chief minister also ordered the deployment of modern sensors, water-level measuring equipment, communication devices and early-warning systems, with additional installations where necessary.

Officials have been instructed to identify vulnerable areas, improve evacuation routes and communication networks, strengthen local warning mechanisms, and enhance relief and rescue preparedness.

Suman said four of the 13 sensitive lakes had already been surveyed, while the remaining sites would be assessed in phases. Expert teams will soon conduct detailed surveys of Saraswati Tal in Chamoli and Kedartal in Uttarkashi.

The surveys will assess lake conditions, water levels, changes in size, surrounding terrain and potential risks to downstream settlements.

The measures follow a deadly August 26 disaster in the Nepal-China border region. The US Geological Survey said a rapid slope failure involving a glacier triggered a massive debris flow and flood. The event generated seismic energy equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, while the debris flow travelled nearly 100 kilometres downstream.