Increasing Avalanche Risk from Himalayan Hanging Glaciers

NPJ Natural Hazards, 16 April 2026)

Rising temperatures and shifting regional precipitation patterns are reducing the stability of Himalayan glaciers, causing some to evolve into “hanging glaciers” — ice masses perched on steep slopes that can detach and trigger ice avalanches. This study presents a comprehensive inventory of hanging glaciers in northern India’s Alaknanda basin, and identifies more than 219. Nearly one-third of this unstable ice is concentrated in the Upper Alaknanda basin, with models indicating potential avalanche flows exceeding 50 meters in height. Exposure to avalanche-related hazards in this basin is projected to increase over the next decade, with 120% more buildings and infrastructure land area at risk by 2030 compared to 2000. The number of people living in these at-risk areas is expected to rise by 17% over the same period. Break-offs from hanging glaciers cause physical damage, but can also trigger secondary hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods. The study underscores the importance of systematic identification and monitoring of high-risk glaciers, alongside risk-informed land-use planning, to reduce downstream hazards in mountain regions.

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