BAGESHWAR: A landslide dammed lake stretching over 2,000m has formed on the Shambhu river, which flows through Bageshwar's Kunwari village and converging with the Pindar river in Chamoli district. The development has raised concerns among residents and experts regarding potential catastrophic impact on downstream villages, including Armal, Tharali and Narayanbagad in Chamoli.
The current lake formation follows similar occurrences in 2022 and 2023 when authorities had to deploy teams to clear the blockages and to prevent downstream flooding in case the blockages burst suddenly.
Kapkot block head Govind Singh Danu, who initially spotted the lake formation during a routine tour of Pinder valley, said, "This time, the lake's length is more than earlier instances, making it a much greater threat. Earlier, its expansion led to temporary action by the district officials, who ensured water drainage from the lake, but it hasn't happened."
Geologists believe that tectonic shifts are triggering landslides, resulting in debris accumulation that obstructs the river flow, thereby forming an unstable lake.
Professor Sunil Nautiyal, director of GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, warns that such lakes in Himalayan rivers could lead to floods downstream, if left unaddressed. "This issue demands immediate research. The risks are too significant to be overlooked," Nautiyal said.
Kapkot sub-divisional magistrate Anurag Arya said, "A team from the irrigation department will be sent soon to assess the situation."
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