National Disaster Management Authority guidelines: Management of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)

This document addresses the serious risks posed to the vulnerable mountain communities by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), avalanches, flash floods and other new and evolving threats exacerbated by rapid global warming, fragile mountain cryosphere and landscapes. These guidelines aim to enable concerned ministries or departments of State/UT, central governments and other stakeholders to take concerted action for preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and response to GLOFs. These Guidelines also emphasize awareness and capacity building of the relevant stakeholders.

These guidelines will provide the basis for comprehensive disaster management plans that will be prepared at the National, State and District levels. At the National level, the DM plan will focus on various aspects of DM including preparedness, mitigation and response. These plans will clearly identify the roles of key stakeholders for each disaster level and also include assessments of their own response capacities.