Sikkim has flagged 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, 16 of them in the top-risk Category A for possible Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Such lakes form from glacier meltwater and can burst suddenly due to excess water or earthquakes. Shako Chho Lake is rated most vulnerable, and mitigation measures are being prepared for it. The State's Department of Science and Technology has been the nodal agency for GLOF assessment since February 2025, and Sikkim is drafting what may be India's first dedicated GLOF Risk Mitigation Protocol, using satellite imagery and early-warning sensors.