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Rain effect: Huge lake in Dhauladhars poses threat to Palampur
Ravinder Sood

Lurking danger The lake has formed in the catchment area of Sethu Nullah, a tributary of the Neugal river. A satellite picture clearly shows the huge natural lake which has developed after heavy landslides Dinesh Nag, an engineer working in a power project, said he had come to know about this lake through GPS and Google

Palampur, June 29
The formation of a huge lake in the Dhauladhars has become a cause for concern for the people of Palampur area, especially those living in the higher reaches.

The lake was reportedly formed after recent rains and flashfloods in the region. It has come up in the catchment area of Sethu Nullah, a tributary of the Neugal river.

A satellite picture shows a water body in the higher reaches of the Dhauladhars. The lake has apparently been formed due to landslides and large-scale erosion during recent rains.

Dinesh Nag, an engineer working in a power project, said he came to know about the lake through the GPS and Google application, but its size was yet to be ascertained.

Another scientist Rakesh Sharma also confirmed the formation of the lake. He said the lake was visible on the Google map application.

Residents of six villages of the Kandi belt of Palampur have expressed their concern over the formation of the lake.

They fear a breach could wash away the entire area, including two power projects set up on the Neugal.

Besides, 12 bridges, Sorabh Van Vihar and roads leading to the upper areas of Palampur are also under threat. They have urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to constitute a committee of experts to survey the area and assess the threat. The administration should initiate steps for the safety of villagers living on the banks of the Sethu Nullah and near the Sorabh Van Vihar, they said.