India steps up glacier monitoring after Nepal disaster

Authorities in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand have ordered closer monitoring of glaciers and known glacial lakes after deadly flooding on the Tibet-Nepal border.

Madan Kaushik, Uttarakhand's state disaster management minister, said the state shared a border with Nepal and had a similar geography. He said teams had been asked to stay vigilant and check whether a similar situation was emerging anywhere in the state.

The US Geological Survey said Wednesday's disaster on the Tibet-Nepal border was caused by a glacial collapse that created a torrent of debris. It said 633 people had been confirmed dead and nearly 3,000 were missing.

The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear. Scientists warn that climate change is melting glaciers worldwide, raising the risk of floods, landslides and other mountain disasters. Melting glaciers and thawing permafrost can also destabilise mountain slopes.

Uttarakhand is one of India's most ecologically sensitive regions and has 1,266 glacial lakes, according to government figures.