Press Release
Press Release from SSDMA Gangtok
Information & Public Relations Department
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been a longstanding partner of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department (LR&DMD) in strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) efforts in Sikkim since 2017.
Building on this successful collaboration, a team from SDC, led by Mr. Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Regional Advisor for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation, is currently on a visit to Sikkim.
On 7th November 2024, a key meeting was held at the office of the SSDMA, LR&DMD under the chairmanship of Ms. Namrata Thapa IAS, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, LR&DMD, bringing together officials from SDC and State Government departments. The meeting focused on ongoing collaboration between the Government of Sikkim and the Swiss Government, specifically regarding the management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the State.
Representatives from SDC, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Mines and Geology, Health Department, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Lachen Pippon also participated.
One of the main topics discussed was the successful completion of the SDC-NDMA-SSDMA collaborative expedition to South Lhonak Lake and Shako Chho, which took place from 19th October to 5th November 2024. During this expedition, a monitoring system equipped with pressure probes was re-installed at South Lhonak Lake, wherein the previously installed system was washed away in the flood of October 2023, and new pressure probes were also installed at the existing monitoring system at Shako Chho. These installations are part of a broader effort to monitor and mitigate the risks associated with GLOF events in Sikkim, a region particularly vulnerable to such natural disaster.
The meeting also included a debriefing session where the expedition participants presented their findings, and outlined the next steps in the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities from the threats posed by glacial lake outburst floods.
Many key issues and action points were discussed in the meeting which require immediate attention of the SSDMA and DST. The SSDMA, LR&DMD, along with the concerned line departments and agencies, continue to work collaboratively to enhance GLOF mitigation strategies and improve disaster preparedness in the region.
Building on this successful collaboration, a team from SDC, led by Mr. Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Regional Advisor for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation, is currently on a visit to Sikkim.
On 7th November 2024, a key meeting was held at the office of the SSDMA, LR&DMD under the chairmanship of Ms. Namrata Thapa IAS, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, LR&DMD, bringing together officials from SDC and State Government departments. The meeting focused on ongoing collaboration between the Government of Sikkim and the Swiss Government, specifically regarding the management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the State.
Representatives from SDC, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Mines and Geology, Health Department, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Lachen Pippon also participated.
One of the main topics discussed was the successful completion of the SDC-NDMA-SSDMA collaborative expedition to South Lhonak Lake and Shako Chho, which took place from 19th October to 5th November 2024. During this expedition, a monitoring system equipped with pressure probes was re-installed at South Lhonak Lake, wherein the previously installed system was washed away in the flood of October 2023, and new pressure probes were also installed at the existing monitoring system at Shako Chho. These installations are part of a broader effort to monitor and mitigate the risks associated with GLOF events in Sikkim, a region particularly vulnerable to such natural disaster.
The meeting also included a debriefing session where the expedition participants presented their findings, and outlined the next steps in the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities from the threats posed by glacial lake outburst floods.
Many key issues and action points were discussed in the meeting which require immediate attention of the SSDMA and DST. The SSDMA, LR&DMD, along with the concerned line departments and agencies, continue to work collaboratively to enhance GLOF mitigation strategies and improve disaster preparedness in the region.