In the aftermath of the devastating floods caused by a Himalayan glacial lake outburst in northeastern India, authorities are initiating the process to officially declare at least 79 missing individuals as deceased.
This tragic event has raised the death toll to 179, making it one of the worst flood disasters in the region in over half a century. The floods, resulting from heavy rainfall and Lhonak Lake overflow, swept away homes and bridges in the state of Sikkim.
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While rescue efforts are ongoing, the state government is seeking federal approval to declare those still missing as dead, a process mandated by law, which typically requires a seven-year waiting period.
In the wake of these events, the official death toll is being reconciled between Sikkim and the neighboring state of West Bengal. Additionally, the threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) is growing due to climate change, particularly in high mountain regions. Many Himalayan communities in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan face risks associated with these events, as over 200 such lakes pose a high hazard, as indicated by research in 2022.
