In its monitoring report of Glacial Lakes and Water Bodies for June 2025, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has revealed that more than 432 glacial lakes (GL) in India have an “increasing trend” in the water spread area and demand vigorous monitoring for disaster purposes.
According to the report, these glacial lakes spread across Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have been flagged for vigorous monitoring because of their potential to unleash sudden and destructive floods.
Arunachal Pradesh accounts for the highest number of expanding lakes (197), followed by Ladakh (120), Jammu and Kashmir (57), Sikkim (47), Himachal Pradesh (6) and Uttarakhand (5). Overall, the Himalayan region saw 1,435 glacial lakes expand in June 2025.
The report said ,”432 Glacial Lakes (out of 681) in India as per Glacial Lake Atlas 2023 display an increase in water spread area during the month of June 2025, and hence demand
vigorous monitoring for
disaster purpose”.
“The total Inventory area of Glacial Lakes was 19,950 Ha ( hectare) during the year 2011 which has increased to 22,844 Ha during the year 2025 (June). There is a 14.51 per cent increase in area. (Out of 544 GLs, only 470 GLs were considered ,” it said.
According to the report, the total glacial lake area in India has grown by over 30 per cent since 2011 — rising from 1,917 hectares to 2,508 hectares. “The total Inventory area of Glacial Lakes within India was 1,917 Ha during the year 2011 which has increased to 2,508 Ha during the year 2025 (June). There is a 30.83 per cent increase in area. (Out of 100GLs, only 55 GLs were considered for this interpretation. The remaining lakes include 40 SDC lakes which have no inventory details as well as lakes which were not analysed/have been merged during the month of June, 2025.),” the report said.
The report said there are 49 Glacial Lakes (out of 100) located within India, display increase in water spread area during the month of June 2025, and hence demand vigorous monitoring for disaster purpose.
Of them, six are located in Ladakh, seven in Jammu and Kashmir, three in Himachal Pradesh two in Uttarakhand, 23 in Sikkim and eight in Arunachal Pradesh.
“The total Inventory area of newly monitored Glacial Lakes within India as per Glacial Lake Atlas, 2023 was 11,738 Ha in the year 2021 which has increased to 12,828 Ha during the year 2025 (June). There is a 9.3% increase in area,” it said
According to the report, the total Inventory area of newly monitored Glacial Lakes located in transboundary region as per Glacial Lake Atlas, 2023 was 43,391 Ha in the year 2021 which has increased to 45,036 Ha during the year 2025 (June). There is a 3.8% increase in area.
The findings come in the backdrop of widespread flooding across the country. At least seven people died in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, while Punjab, already reeling under floods, received another spell of torrential rain on Monday, disrupting normal life and forcing the closure of all schools and colleges.
In Jammu and Kashmir, amid persistent downpours in Katra, the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage remained suspended for the seventh consecutive day, after a landslide on the yatra route claimed 34 lives last Tuesday.
“Out of 2843 GLs & WBs monitored, 1435 show increase in area, 1008 show decrease in area, 108 show no change in area and 292 were not able to be analysed from remote sensing data, during the month of June 2025,” the report said.
Stressing the need for urgent preparedness, the CWC recommended the installation of real-time monitoring systems, satellite-based alerts and early-warning mechanisms for downstream communities.
It also called for closer coordination between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Statedisaster management authorities, alongside transboundary cooperation with Nepal, Bhutan and China, given that many expanding lakes lie across borders but feed Indian rivers.
“The Himalayan Region (HR) is facing important challenges in coping with the adverse effects of climate change. Physically, the shrinking of mountain glaciers and expansion of Glacial Lakes are amongst the most recognizable and dynamic impacts of climate warming in this environment,” the report said.