Ticking time bombs? 219 hanging glaciers identified in U’khand’s Alaknanda basin, max in areas near Badrinath

Dehradun: A new research study has identified 219 hanging glaciers in Uttarakhand’s Alaknanda basin, with unstable ice volumes and avalanche potential that could impact thousands of people and key pilgrimage routes downstream. A significant concentration of these glaciers — about 30% — are in the upper Alaknanda basin, which is where the shrine town of Badrinath, and Mana, the last village along the India-China border, are located. The research, published in Nature’s ‘Natural Hazards’ journal, provides one of the first basin-scale assessments of hanging glaciers in the region. The study, authored by Nandu Krishnan and Anil V Kulkarni from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; Ashim Sattar from IIT Bhubaneswar; and Harendra Singh Negi from the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh, mapped glaciers covering about 71.7 sq km, with a total estimated ice volume of 2.4 cubic km. Of this, nearly 0.7 cubic km was considered unstable “hanging mass” prone to collapse.These glaciers were typically located at high altitudes between 4,000 and 6,700 metres, resting on steep slopes averaging around 33 degrees. The Vishnuganga sub-basin alone had the highest number and volume of hanging glaciers, making it a critical hotspot for potential hazards, scientists claimed in the study. Using advanced avalanche simulation models, researchers assessed what could happen if these glaciers collapse. The results were alarming. Simulated avalanche flow could directly impact key settlements such as Badrinath, Mana and Hanuman Chatti, as well as roads and trekking routes, said the study.In the Badrinath-Mana sector, avalanche flow heights could exceed 50 metres, with some upstream areas recording higher intensities. Such events could not only damage infrastructure but also block rivers, potentially triggering secondary disasters like flash floods.In the past two decades, the region has warmed faster than the global average, accelerating glacier retreat and destabilising ice formations, the study said, adding that as glaciers shrink, many detach from their parent ice bodies and settle precariously on steep slopes. These formations, known as “hanging glaciers”, are inherently unstable and prone to sudden ice break-offs. Unlike stable glaciers, they continuously shed ice to maintain their balance. Climate variability, erratic snowfall and seismic activity increase the likelihood of collapse.Such events are not theoretical. Past disasters like the 2021 Chamoli avalanche and the 2015 Langtang tragedy in Nepal have shown how glacier collapses can trigger catastrophic downstream destruction.The study found that built-up areas in vulnerable zones were projected to grow dramatically — from around 8,000 sqm in 2000 to over 1.5 lakh sqm by 2030. At the same time, the exposed population could rise from about 380 people to about 8,500.This growth, researchers said, is driven by expanding tourism, pilgrimage activity and infrastructure development in high-altitude regions. Towns like Badrinath, along with highways and hydropower projects, were increasingly encroaching into hazard-prone zones.Unlike the Alps — where hanging glaciers are closely monitored using advanced technologies — the Himalayas lack large-scale early warning systems. The study suggests adopting a combination of satellite monitoring, ground-based sensors and avalanche modelling to identify high-risk glaciers. Equally important was better land-use planning, as per the researchers. Restricting construction in vulnerable zones, strengthening disaster preparedness, and raising awareness among local communities could significantly reduce risk, they added.