A glacial lake has burst its banks in the Himalayan region of India. The Lhonak Lake, located in the mountainous state of Sikkim, burst through a dam after heavy rainfall and an avalanche on 4 October. This, consequently, caused major flooding around the Teesta River.
Currently, 47 casualties and at least 150 missing have been reported. 15 bridges and dozens of roads have been washed away or submerged, cutting off certain parts of the north-eastern state. The only highway that connects the state to the rest of India was damaged, significantly hindering rescue and relief efforts. Bad weather has also made rescue operations very challenging.
4000 tourists have been left stranded in Lachung and Lachen, in the northern part of the state, due to limited access routes as floods have washed roads away. 3,900 people have been moved to 26 relief camps that have been set up by the state.
Scientists have previously warned about the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers for decades, saying the pace at which they are losing ice is a threat to the whole world, not just Asia. More specifically, experts warned about the possibility of Lhonak Lake bursting several times over the past 20 years and cautioned that it was sensitive to extreme weather events.
