"Rock-Ice Avalanches Expose Gaps in Himalayan Flood Warnings"
Rock-ice avalanche
sudden failure of a steep slope combining rock and ice, often due to permafrost thaw.
Debris flow
fast-moving mixture of water, sediment, rock and ice that develops after a slope failure.
The Himalaya is one of the world's youngest and most tectonically active mountain systems, and rapid deglaciation combined with thawing permafrost makes its slopes especially prone to sudden failure. In India, the Himalayan arc running through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the northeastern states, along with the Western Ghats, together account for the bulk of the country's landslide risk, affecting roughly 13% of India's landmass. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 created a three-tier response structure: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at the apex, chaired by the Prime Minister; State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), chaired by Chief Ministers; and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) at the local level. India has also committed to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), whose Target G calls for universal access to multi-hazard early warning systems.
A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is one specific hazard within this system. It happens when a moraine or ice dam holding back a glacial lake suddenly breaches, releasing stored water downstream. Himalayan glaciers feed many of India's major rivers, illustrated by pairings such as the Siachen glacier feeding the Nubra river, the Bandarpunch glacier feeding the Yamuna, and the Zemu glacier feeding the Teesta. This is why glacial change anywhere in the range has consequences far beyond the immediate valley. Global estimates suggest nearly 9 million people in High Mountain Asia and about 3 million people in India face GLOF exposure.
Not every Himalayan disaster, however, is a GLOF. A rock-ice avalanche occurs when a steep, rapidly deglaciating slope with thawing permafrost fails suddenly, sending rock, ice and debris crashing onto the valley floor. The impact can generate a seismic signal strong enough to be mistaken for an earthquake. This mass often then transforms into a fast-moving debris flow, picking up water, sediment and boulders as it rushes downstream. This is exactly what happened in the 2021 Chamoli disaster, which began with a rock-ice avalanche off Ronti Peak, and in the 2025 Dharali disaster. …
Consider the following pairs:
Glacier — River
1.Bandarpunch — Yamuna
2.Bara Shigri — Chenab
3.Milam — Mandakini
4.Siachen — Nubra
5.Zemu — Manas
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
(Historical place) — (Well-known for)
1.Burzahom — Rock-cut shrines
2.Chandraketugarh — Terracotta art
3.Ganeshwar — Copper artefacts
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs: Glacier — River. 1. Siachen — Nubra 2. Bandarpunch — Yamuna 3. Bara Shigri — Sutlej 4. Zemu — Teesta. Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Which of the following statements about the institutional structure under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is/are correct? 1. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is chaired by the Prime Minister. 2. State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) are chaired by the Chief Minister of the respective state. 3. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) function independently of state-level oversight. Select the correct answer using the code below.
With reference to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), consider the following statements: 1. India is a signatory to the Framework. 2. Target G calls for universal access to multi-hazard early warning systems by 2030. 3. The Framework is legally binding on all signatory states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements: 1. A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is caused by the sudden release of water impounded behind a moraine or ice dam. 2. A rock-ice avalanche can generate a seismic signal similar to a minor earthquake when it strikes a valley floor. 3. Every high-mountain debris flow disaster in the Himalaya originates from a glacial lake breach. How many of the above statements are correct?
Landslides in India are most concentrated in which two physiographic zones?
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