Himalayan Glaciers Bite Back

Enormous water flows are generated by the Himalayan glaciers and volumes are increasing with climate change. This flow, naturally, offers scope for electricity generation from dam building in the area. This is especially attractive to India, as electricity is needed to power industry in the North of the country. The downside is that the location is prone to both earthquakes and major flooding. There have been disasters, especially as dam creation seems opportunistic rather than being a carefully-assessed activity (e.g. removal of failed dams, sometimes seems nobody's responsibility, being left to nature). The latest tragic event occurred in Uttarakhand state, when a glacier broke and crashed into a dam (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/07/150-feared-dead-as-glacier-crashes-into-dam-in-northern-india). People observing the event, describe a wall of dust, rock and water charging down a river valley (there was no possibility of warnings to people downstream), killing many people (some estimates put the death toll at 150 but it is difficult to establish exact figures). The Indian Himalayas will always be a difficult area to operate hydroelectric schemes.