Artificial Lake formed in UK due to clogging of stream; Further damage likely if breached

TIL Desk/National/Chamoli/ Announcing the formation of an artificial lake in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, has said that the debris brought by the avalanche in the state earlier this week has blocked a stream that joins the Rishi Ganga river forming a temporary lake which if breached can cause further damage in the valley.

The Central Water Commission, had earlier said the length and height of the lake was 350 meters and 60 meters respectively. “An artificial Lake has formed on river Rishiganga in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, with a length of 350 m height of 60 m with slope of 10 deg,” the commission tweeted. Ever since the lake was formed, the Chamoli district administration issued an alert asking people to avoid going to the banks of the river. Satellite pictures of the glacial lake suggest it has formed on the confluence of Raunthi Gad and Rishi Ganga.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the depth of the glacial lake is not known, and asked people not to panic but maintain caution. According to Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) director Kalachand Sain, a team of scientists from the institute conducted an aerial survey of the upper reaches of the Rishi Ganga just a day after the Sunday avalanche and spotted the new glacial lake there.