The Shilasamudra glacier on the banks of the Nandakini river in Chamoli district is under threat. Two holes at the foothills of the glacier just below Shilasamudra and the cracks surrounding it can wreak havoc at any time. Experts say that in the event of a big earthquake, if the Shilasamudra glacier bursts in the future, many cities can be eradicated from Sitel, Kanol, Ghat, Nandprayag to Haridwar.
The Shilasamudra glacier is the 16th stop of Nanda Rajajat. Being a symbol of religious importance is an important part of the environment and ecosystem. Rare types of fauna are found here, which also play an important role in the ecology system of the Garhwal Himalayas. The Shilasamudra glacier is spread over an area of about eight kilometers.
The upper part of the glacier is filled with hundreds of tons of thousands of stones and a large circular hole has been formed at its foothills for the last few years. According to the pilgrims who visited Rajajat in 2000 and 2014, this hole in the foothills of the first glacier was very small. At present, its size has grown.
Call of future danger
Not only this, only a hole was made under this glacier, but now a second hole has been formed at some distance inside the first hole. Large cracks lie above and around these holes. It also can not be ruled out the threat of future danger. Environmental experts are calling this the alarm bell.
In high Himalayan regions, light terrain is dangerous for glaciers. The Garhwal Himalaya is still in its infancy and has weak surfaces. The melting of Gangotri, Pinder, Nandakini, and Mandakini glaciers has accelerated over a few decades. The main reason for this is the increase in the temperature of the earth. If we do not stop harming the environment and unplanned exploitation of forests in time, the consequences can be dangerous.
Professor Mohan Panwar, Geography Department, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar
There is an old history of destruction in the district due to flood
The devastation caused by the glacier bursting in the Rishiganga river in Raini village in Chamoli district on Sunday has brought memories of the devastation caused by the floods of the past years in the minds of the people of the district. Although the flood was not located in the district due to the glacier bursting in the winter, there has been a huge loss of life and property in the monsoon season due to flooding and cloudburst disaster.
In the year 1978, the huge debris from Ganga and Dabrani breaking the lake in Kanodia Gadera blocked the flow of Ganga Bhagirathi. Here the lake was formed due to the flow of Ganga Bhagirathi was blocked for about 72 hours. The river flow was normalized by breaking with the help of the army.
In 2012, due to high rainfall and cloudburst, there was heavy destruction due to the swamps in Swara Ganga, Hanumanganga, and Asi Ganga. At that time, three small hydropower projects under construction in the Asi Ganga Valley were erased and dozens of laborers engaged in project construction were washed away. In the year 2013, floods in the Ganga Bhagirathi and Yamuna rivers also caused major destruction in the coastal areas.
Damage due to breaking off a glacier in Gangotri valley
In the year 2011, the glacier that came in Bhaironjhap Nalla in front of Gangotri Temple crossed Ganga Bhagirathi and reached the hotels at the other end.
The Gangotri temple survived narrowly, but the hotel, etc. suffered heavy damage. In 2017, the heavy debris that broke the blue pool in the upper part of Gomukh changed the direction of Ganga Bhagirathi in Gomukh. Even today, heavy debris is deposited here.
Kartal is pointing towards disaster in future
Kedar Tal, currently located in the foothills of the Thala Sagar iceberg in the Gangotri Valley, is also pointing to a major disaster in the future. According to climbers visiting the area, the water level of the pool has become very high due to debris filling. If this rhythm ever breaks, then the possibility of catastrophe in Gangotri Dham cannot be ruled out due to the rise in Kedar Ganga.