A major environmental disaster has unfolded in the Zanaskar valley after 200 feet landslide blocked the famous Phutkal-Lungnok River leading to the formation of a five kilometre artificial lake between Shaday Sumdo and Mar-Shun in the Kargil district of cold desert of Ladakh.

What're authorities doing?Alarmed by the phenomenon, the authorities have closed the famous frozen ice Chaddar trek for the tourists and asked the people in living four villages to shift as there is greater danger of flooding.Authorities have issued an advisory to the people living in four villages to vacate as there is a danger that artificial lake may submerge these areas."It is a very big river which flows very fast. People living in four villages have been advised to shift", said Rajesh Basotra, sub divisional magistrate, Zanaskar.

Are roads blocked?Skalzang Wangyal, executive councillor, tourism and power, Ladakh Autnomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, told dna that 97 per cent river has been blocked by the landslide between Shady Sumdo and Marshun leading to the formation of the artificial lake.

What are repercussions?"Due to the lake formation the soil in the area has become loose. It posses greater danger to the people living in the low lying areas. It has also become life threatening because the domestic and local tourists walk on the frozen ice along the Chaddar trek", said Wangyal.

Is area tourist hub?Chaddar trek is world famous for frozen ice walk along the Zanaskar River. Nested in the icy mountains, the Chaddar trek is famous among the adventurists who walk over the frozen ice to reach to the famous Phutkal monsetry and the last habitation in the Zanaskar valley."Every winter around 1000 tourists embark on the trek on frozen ice along this trek", said Wangyal.This trek is also used by locals during the harsh winters to reach to Leh from Zanaskar when the roads and highways get closed due to snowfall during the winters.

What's the effect?Official figures reveal that the river discharge was 50 cusecs on December 17 which dropped to 40 cusecs some days later and ebbed to 15 cusecs in early January."There is road connectivity only up to 40 kilometres from Padam while as the distance till Marshun is 90 kilometre. We have held meeting with army, BRO and mechanical engineers and formed a committee to ascertain the blockade", said Mohammad Sadiq Sheikh, district development commissioner Kargil.Authorities have also asked the experts to find out the reasons for landslides and formation of the lake. "We cannot say off hand whether it is because of the global warming. Let the experts assess the situation and report. We will then only be able to know the exact reasons", said an official.