Context: Some of the most catastrophic floods in the Hindu Kush Himalayas have been caused by glacial lake outburst events. The last recorded GLOF event in India was in Sikkim last October

• The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region has been facing more and more flood-related situations in the last few years.

• This region, which includes the world’s highest mountains, covers four million square kilometres across eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. It is vital for the lives and livelihoods of 240 million people.

• While some floods in the area have been caused by natural causes, the most catastrophic ones may be the result of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). The last recorded GLOF event in India was in Sikkim, when at least 14 persons were killed in the northern part of the state last October.

• Research also indicates that the HKH region is warming faster than the global average. This directly threatens its diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity.

• But before we discuss GLOFs and its impact on the Himalayas, let’s first understand how they are formed and what are the factors influencing them.