A four-member technical team from the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology who arrived at Lunana will reinstall and repair the sensor for Early Warning System that is reported to have been damaged. This was after the outburst of the subsidiary lake at the source of Phochhu river in Punakha recently.
The team at the lake will study the situation and carry out a rapid assessment. A member from the team said they are worried about the cascading effect of the outburst of the subsidiary lakes.
“The subsidiary lake is small. It won’t be even up to fifteen metres deep. So the worry is not about the outburst of these small lakes. Rather we are worried about the cascading effects on the main lake by the outburst of smaller lakes,” said Karma, a specialist for National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology.
He also said the people living downstream need not worry as they are monitoring the lakes.
According to Lunana Gup, people of few areas have moved to higher areas after the outburst of the lake.
“Half of the people in the gewog had gone to collect cordyceps. Only elderly people, women and children were here at the time of outburst of the lakes. However, everyone returned home after hearing the news about it. So, for now, we are waiting for what the team from NCHM has to say. If they say, there is a risk, we will move to higher areas,” added Kaka, the gup of Lunana Gewog.
However, a press release from the home ministry yesterday said the water level in Phochu continues to be normal.
