NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India Initiates Process to Designate 79 Missing Persons as Deceased Following Himalayan Glacial Lake Outburst
India has taken steps to officially declare as deceased at least 79 individuals who went missing in the devastating floods caused by a Himalayan glacial lake outburst just two weeks ago, according to a senior official on Friday. This development brings the death toll from the disaster to 179.
The catastrophic floods, triggered by heavy rainfall and overflow from the Lhonak Lake, represent the worst flooding the region has experienced in over half a century. Homes and bridges in the northeastern state of Sikkim, sandwiched between Bhutan, China, and Nepal, were swept away.
The state government has initiated the process of officially classifying those still missing as deceased by seeking permission from the federal government. The law stipulates a minimum interval of seven years before a missing person can be legally declared dead.
“Although we have not yet called off the rescue efforts, the chances of finding these individuals after two weeks are slim to none,” expressed Anil Rai, a state official.
Thus far, Sikkim has recovered at least 40 bodies in the aftermath of the floods, while the neighboring state of West Bengal has found 60 bodies. Officials from both states are working together to accurately reconcile the official death toll and avoid double counting.
As global warming impacts high-altitude regions, the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) escalates for many communities in the area.
The lakes, which store water from melting glaciers, can overflow and rupture, subsequently releasing torrents of water down the mountain valleys.
A recent study conducted in 2022 revealed that over 200 such lakes pose a significant threat to communities residing in the Himalayan regions of Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by YP Rajesh and Clarence Fernandez)
