Environment / Cryospheric Research
A joint team from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, and the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), Itanagar, has successfully reached Dharkha Tso for the first time—marking a landmark achievement in India’s high-altitude glacial research. The lake is among the high-risk glacial bodies flagged by the National Disaster Management Authority and lies deep in the upper Khangri region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Dharkha Tso, meaning “white as curd,” is one of 29 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)–susceptible lakes in the state. Situated at 16,145 feet in the remote Mirathang Valley of Mago Circle, it lacks any established access route. This breakthrough enhances India’s preparedness for glacial hazards and strengthens long-term cryospheric monitoring in the eastern Himalayas.
MCQ
Which research bodies jointly achieved the first scientific access to Dharkha Tso?
- NCPOR and CESHS
- ISRO and GSI
- NDMA and NIDM
- IIT Guwahati and IMD
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