More than 400 glacial lakes within India are showing alarming signs of expansion and require urgent monitoring to prevent potential disasters, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has revealed in its latest monthly report.
In the Glacial Lakes and Water Bodies Monitoring Report for June 2025, the CWC stated: “432 Glacial Lakes (out of 681) located within India as per Glacial Lake Atlas 2023 display increase in water spread area during the month of June 2025, and hence demand vigorous monitoring for disaster purpose.”
The flagged lakes are spread across Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. According to the report, 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).
Himalayan Region Faces Rising Climate Risks
The report highlights that the total glacial lake area in India has increased by over 30 per cent since 2011 — from 1,917 hectares to 2,508 hectares by June 2025. “The total Inventory area of Glacial Lakes within India was 1,917 Ha during the year 2011 which has increased to 2,508 Ha during the year 2025 (June). There is a 30.83% increase in area,” the CWC noted.
Across the Himalayan region, 1,435 glacial lakes showed expansion in June 2025, while 1,008 saw a decrease, 108 showed no change and 292 could not be analysed due to limitations in remote sensing data.
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The findings come amid widespread flooding in several states. At least seven people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has remained suspended for seven consecutive days after a landslide claimed 34 lives on the route. Punjab also faced fresh disruptions from torrential rain on Monday, forcing the closure of schools and colleges.
The CWC called for urgent preparedness measures including real-time monitoring systems, satellite-based alerts, and early-warning mechanisms for downstream communities. It further recommended closer coordination between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), state disaster management authorities, and transboundary cooperation with Nepal, Bhutan and China, given that many expanding lakes straddle international borders and feed Indian rivers.
“The Himalayan Region (HR) is facing important challenges in coping with the adverse effects of climate change. Physically, the shrinking of mountain glaciers and expansion of Glacial Lakes are amongst the most recognizable and dynamic impacts of climate warming in this environment,” the report said.
