Analysts are running against time to unravel what really triggered India glacier tragedy. Questions are popping up on how to avert incidents of a similar nature. Preliminary reports indicate that the devastating glacial tragedy that occurred on Sunday was prompted by global warming.
However, the exact cause of the initial glacial breakaway still remains unclear. According to Aljazeera, experts that were tasked by India’s Supreme Court to assess the impact of receding glaciers on dams had issued a warning to the government of India in 2014.
Ravi Chopra, one of the contracted experts, saw a replication of what they had earlier warned the Indian government when the flood and wreckage banged downstream from the Himalayan glacier. The devastating glacial flood claimed at least 31 people while around 165 people are still unaccounted.
Chopra and his team warned that warming temperatures impacted from climate change was causing the melting of the Himalayan glaciers and advised against the construction of dams due to a fragile ecosystem.
Himalayan region is prone of flash floods due to its vulnerability to rising global temperatures. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah informed parliament that the flash flood was triggered by a landslide that stretched over 14 square kilometers. Scientists inspecting the site argue that the avalanche was prompted by a ‘huge rock slide.’
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