Unprecedented Hot Springs Trigger Alarm in Ladakh: Secretary DMRRR Holds Meeting with NDMA and GSI

Amit Sharma, Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, and Rehabilitation (DMRRR) of the Union Territory of Ladakh, convened a crucial meeting to address the alarming triggering of hot springs in the Chumathang area of Nyoma Sub-Division in Leh district. Senior teams from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Ground Water Board, National Institute of Hydrology, Western Himalayan Regional Centre, and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology participated in the meeting.
The discussion focused on the unprecedented surge in hot spring waters in the Chumathang area, with levels rising to 2-3 meters in the last ten days of November, compared to the usual average of one foot throughout the year. Amit Sharma provided an overview of the situation and expressed concerns about the sudden geological phenomenon.
Representatives from different departments and organizations shared their viewpoints on this unusual event, with NDMA particularly interested in understanding if tectonic plate movements were responsible for the surge. Given that the area is in a highly seismic zone, there is concern about potential earthquakes in the future. Amit Sharma requested the deployment of an expert team to conduct an in-depth study to understand and mitigate the phenomenon. The meeting concluded with a decision by NDMA that GSI, Wadia Institute, and other teams would share a white paper on the issue with all stakeholders, including the Ladakh Administration and NDMA. This will be followed by an advisory of do’s and don’ts for locals and the establishment of a regular hot springs water-level monitoring mechanism at Chumathang, Nyoma, ensuring long-term safety measures for locals, households, tourism points, and defense facilities near the Indus River