Authorities Begin Controlled Draining of 300-Meter-Long Temporary Lake Formed in Dhauliganga, Averting Potential Disaster

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Chamoli, Uttarakhand – In a crucial preventive step, the district administration has begun the process of draining a 300-meter-long temporary lake that formed in the Dhauliganga River near Tamak Nala in the Niti Valley of Chamoli district. The lake, which posed a potential flood risk, was created a few months ago after debris from flash floods obstructed the river’s natural flow.

According to disaster management officials, earthmover machines have been deployed to remove accumulated debris from the mouth of the lake and to reduce water pressure. Currently, the river is flowing through a 15-meter-wide channel, which is being widened to 30 meters to restore the river’s natural course and gradually decrease the lake’s size.

Experts Sounded the Alarm Earlier

Reports indicate that the temporary lake measures approximately 300 meters in length, 60 meters in width, and 3 meters in depth. A research team from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University, led by Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh Bisht from the Department of Geology, recently visited the Niti Valley and warned of the possible dangers the lake posed to the surrounding region.

Administration on High Alert

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar stated that a team of experts is continuously assessing the lake’s stability, size, and potential threat level. He added that the water level is being closely monitored, and if required, controlled release operations will be implemented to prevent any sudden outflow or downstream flooding.

Authorities and experts have emphasized that this proactive action was necessary, as the temporary lake could have turned into a major disaster had it breached naturally.