Coinciding with the auspicious day, a formal consecration ceremony of the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology’s (NCHM) new “Flood Warning and Cryosphere Research Office” in Lunana was held on the 12th day of the fourth month of the Bhutanese calendar, on 8th June 2025. The construction of the new office facilities and the installation of a 12 kV solar energy plant were supported by the Bhutan for Life (BFL) Project with a total fund of Nu. 20.83 million. The construction of a new office is one of the planned activities of NCHM for the 13th FYP.
The consecration ceremony was presided over by Lam of Pelden Lhamo Lhakhang, Toechey, Lunana, Zhung Dratsang, and was graced by Mr. Karma, Specialist, Cryosphere Services Division, NCHM. NCHM staff, civil servants based in Lunana, local leaders, and people from the Lunana community attended the ceremony. The Director, NCHM, and the Executive Director of BFL Fund Secretariat joined the event virtually and addressed the gathering emphasizing the importance of the role of the community in disaster preparedness. The Director, NCHM, also thanked the BFL funding support, Gasa Dzongkhag Administration, and the Lunana Gewog for facilitating and providing logistics support for transportation of construction materials to Lunana. He also acknowledged and thanked the civil servants in Lunana who helped and assisted NCHM during the past GLOF events. Dr. Pema Wangda, Executive Director of BFL Fund Secretariat, shared the rationale behind the project’s support to enhance adaptation against the impact of climate change, as Lunana is located within the Jigme Dorji National Park.
Local leaders also expressed gratitude to the Royal Government of Bhutan, BFL Project and NCHM for successfully establishing a permanent office and research facility for effective monitoring and delivery of Early Warning System for Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) to keep the community safe. He also shared that due to the impact of climate change, they have witnessed dramatic changes in the glacial lakes and have to live in constant fear of a potential GLOF.
Relocation and construction of the new Flood Warning Office was one of the recommendations from the Rapid Assessment of Thorthomi Subsidiary Lake II GLOF, June 20, 2019 for effective monitoring of GLOF as the earlier Flood Warning Office is located more than 1 km from the GLOF monitoring station and cannot make a visual verification during the emergencies. The existing office has become too small and outdated to accommodate the ICT equipment and additional monitoring and communication facilities. The new office is equipped with a 12 kV solar system that powers additional ICT facilities that would significantly enhance flood warning and monitoring capabilities in Lunana, where the risk of GLOF has intensified due to the expansion of glacial lakes caused by climate change.
The facility will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together glaciologists, hydrologists, climatologists, engineers, and others to undertake research for understanding changing glaciers, glacier lakes, GLOF patterns due to climate change, improve monitoring and predictive capabilities using new sensors for the delivery of effective EWS for vulnerable communities downstream.
The Lunana site office has two staff deputed on a special duty after 1994 GLOF to monitor lakes and deliver EWS information to communities downstream. Lunana Staff is responsible for physical monitoring of glaciers and lakes as well as maintenance of GLOF EWS stations and facilities located within Lunana and Wachey areas.
Issued by: National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) and Bhutan for Life (BFL) Secretariat.
