South Lhonak Lake

Why in news?

• Fourteen people have died and 102 people are missing in Sikkim following the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) after the burst of the South Lhonak Lake (a glacial lake) due to heavy rains. The consequent flash floods severely damaged the Chungthang dam in the downstream.

About South Lhonak Lake

• South Lhonak Lake is a glacial-moraine-dammed lake, located in Sikkim’s far northwestern region.
• It was formed due to the melting of the Lhonak glacier.
• It is one of the fastest expanding lakes in the Sikkim Himalaya region, and one of the 14 potentially dangerous lakes susceptible to Glacial Lake outburst flood (GLOFs).
• It plays a role in the hydrological cycle, releasing water downstream, ultimately benefiting the Teesta River basin.

About Chungthang dam

• Chungthang Dam, also known as the Chungthang Hydroelectric Project, is a dam and hydroelectric power station located in Chungthang, a town in Sikkim.
• It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project across River Teesta, which was commissioned in 2017.
• River Teesta is formed near Chungthang after confluence of the Lachen and Lachung rivers.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

South Lhonak lake, recently seen in news, is in which Indian State?

(a) Sikkim

(b) Uttarakhand

(c) Himachal Pradesh

(d) Arunachal Pradesh

Answer