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Himachal's Ghepan lake
New Delhi: In the breathtaking valleys of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti region, a silent disaster is steadily taking shape high above the popular tourist village of Sissu.
Perched at an altitude of 4,068 meters, the rapidly expanding Ghepan Lake has triggered serious concerns among scientists, who warn that a sudden glacial lake outburst Food (GLOF) could unleash catastrophic floods capable of devastating the entire region within minutes.
Located around 11 kilometers upstream from Sissu village, Ghepan Lake-also known as Ghepang Ghat-is swelling at an alarming rate due to accelerated glacier melting caused by climate change.
Experts fear that if the lake bursts, floodwaters could reach Sissu in just 21 minutes, leaving residents with almost no time to escape.
Sissu, situated along the Chandra River immediately after the Atal Tunnel exit, was once known for its peaceful mountain life, agriculture, and livestock farming. However, since the inauguration of the iconic Atal Tunnel in October 2020, the village has transformed into a major tourist hotspot.
Thousands of vehicles now enter the region daily, with tourist traffic peaking at nearly 5,000 vehicles a day during peak season.
Adventure tourism activities such as boating, ziplining, off-roading, and riverside camping have rapidly expanded across the area. Homestays, cafés, and tourism infrastructure now line the riverbanks. But behind this booming economy lies a growing environmental threat.
Ghepan Lake Triples in Size
Scientific data reveals the scale of the danger. In 1989, Ghepan Lake covered just 36.49 hectares. By 2022, its size had expanded to 101.30 hectares-nearly three times larger.
According to assessments by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), the Ghepan Glacier has retreated by approximately 2.76 kilometers since 1962.
Rising Himalayan temperatures are accelerating glacial melting, while rainfall at high altitudes-where snowfall once dominated-is worsening the situation further.
Scientists Bhanu Pratap and Anil Kulkarni warn that the glacier is retreating at an average rate of nearly 53 meters every year. As the lake expands, it further accelerates glacier melting, creating a dangerous self-reinforcing cycle.
Entire Region Falls in “Red Zone”
Researchers have modelled eight separate flood scenarios linked to a potential glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), and in every scenario, Sissu falls within the highest-risk “Red Zone.”
In the worst-case scenario, floodwaters carrying enormous boulders, rocks, debris, and chunks of glacial ice could rush downstream at speeds of up to 43 kmph. The destruction could impact:
Tourism infrastructure across Lahaul-Spiti
The disaster could severely damage the Manali-Leh Highway and even threaten the strategically vital Atal Tunnel. Scientists also warn that floodwaters may continue downstream through the Chenab River basin, potentially affecting parts of Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Warning Systems Still Incomplete
India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already categorized Ghepan Lake as highly vulnerable. Agencies including the NRSC, Central Water Commission, NCPOR, and CDAC are currently studying the threat and developing mitigation systems.
A pilot warning mechanism featuring sensors, satellite monitoring systems, and cameras has reportedly been installed near Sissu, but officials admit the project remains in the testing phase.
Ground preparedness, however, remains deeply inadequate. Local residents still lack:
This absence of preparedness has heightened anxiety among villagers, many of whom now live under constant fear of a sudden disaster.
A Bigger Climate Warning for the Himalayas
Experts say Ghepan Lake is not an isolated threat. Himachal Pradesh had 805 glacial lakes in 2016. By 2022, that number had surged dramatically to 1,619.
Across the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, glaciers are shrinking rapidly due to climate change, creating hundreds of unstable glacial lakes that may become future disaster zones.
The situation in Sissu has now emerged as a powerful warning for the entire Himalayan belt—where booming tourism, fragile ecosystems, and accelerating climate change are colliding dangerously.
Scientists stress that immediate action is essential, including robust early warning systems, evacuation planning, public awareness campaigns, and stricter environmental monitoring.
For now, the stunning beauty of Sissu continues to attract tourists from across the country. But towering silently above the village, Ghepan Lake remains a ticking time bomb in the Himalayas.
