Known for its scenic landscapes and unparalleled beauty, Kashmir faces the looming threat of more than 100 active permafrost or melting rock glaciers.

As rock glaciers hold large amounts of water, the melting of them would cause devastation in the Jhelum River basin and the adjoining areas if the heat levels went any higher in the region, according to a recent study.

The current situation indicates an imminent outburst, as the permafrost is about to melt, as the findings stated.

Major threat looms over Kashmir

Dr Remya mentioned in her study that the glaciers are melting and are transforming into rock glaciers. Which has posed a serious threat in areas around Chirsar and Bramasar lakes, near Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

This phenomenon can cause glacial outburst floods (GLOFs) in the surroundings, like the ones that occurred in Kedarnath, Chamoli, and Sikkim in the past.

The water source of both of these lakes is found to be the same glacier. If the permafrost around these lakes melts, the water will rapidly flood the low-lying areas.

Dr Remya forecasts that initially, a large quantity of water will be trajected towards the steep valley in the nearby areas, where the slope is around 12° to 65°, throwing the water at full bore, making rescue chances negligible.

These findings were reported in a study led by Dr Remya SN in Down To Earth magazine.

The study was co-authored by scientists from the Geological Survey of India, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay-Monash Research Academy, the Northumbria University of the UK, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) headquarters, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

What is permafrost?

Permafrost contains large amounts of ice and water, which are usually frozen for at least two years. Usually, disasters due to permafrost outbursts are reported in Greenland, the USA’s Alaska, and Russia’s Siberia. Relatively less is known of the rock glaciers in the Himalayas.

After conducting a study based on satellite images of the area, Dr Remya and her team visited the site and prepared a ‘Permafrost Zonation Map’. 

She discovered 207 rock glaciers in an area of 50 sq km. Her report mentioned that a disaster threat looms over the Jhelum basin, as the glaciers are now transforming into rock glaciers, awaiting an outburst.

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