Deluge in the Hills
Cloudbursts in regions like Uttarakhand, Kishtwar and Kathua, which happened within two weeks of each other were not just co-incidents. We have had such disasters in different parts of the country in the recent past. Kullu, Kinnaur, Dharamshala in Himachal, Salem district in Tamil Nadu etc. These events are actually becoming more frequent and becoming destructive. The causality is a combination of natural and human-induced factors. While these areas have always been prone to such events due to their geography, the intensity and impact are steadily increasing.
Reasons for the Frequent Tragedies and Remedies:
When warm, moist air from the plains is pushed up by the steep mountain slopes, it cools and condenses leading to precipitation in a short period of time and forms very heavy clouds which can burst leading to devastation in the narrow valleys which act like funnels concentrating the heavy rainfall into a small area and accelerating the water flow, mud and sludge in an unstable geology of the Himalayan region. This is what must have happened just a few days back in Kishtwar when at least 60 pilgrims going to Machail Mata perished on the spot.
Rampant and often illegal construction on these unstable slopes and riverbanks, including hotels, homes, and roads, destabilizes the terrain and makes it more vulnerable to landslides and erosion. The removal of trees and other vegetation for development projects weakens the soil, removing the natural buffers that help to absorb water and prevent soil erosion. Settlements and infrastructure built on riverbeds and floodplains are directly in the path of flash floods, amplifying the destruction and loss of life.
To mitigate the impact of cloudbursts and similar disasters, a multi-faceted approach involving prevention, preparedness, and response is essential. Ideally a dense network of automatic weather stations and Doppler radars in high-risk areas need to be established. While expensive, Doppler radars can help predict the possibility of a cloudburst a few hours in advance thus providing crucial time for evacuation. In addition, developing and implementing real-time alert systems (e.g., SMS, mobile apps, or local sirens) to provide timely warnings to communities once the threat becomes apparent.
Restricting construction in geologically fragile and flood-prone zones and creating and strictly enforcing existing laws that prevent building on unstable slopes and riverbeds is a necessity. In areas where construction is allowed the use of local, sustainable building materials and construction techniques that are resilient to landslides and earthquakes should be encouraged. These materials were well known to even our forefathers. One can still see these vintage structures which have withstood the vagaries of storms and torrential rains in remote areas of small habitations on the slopes of hills in Himachal and Kashmir valley.
Launching large-scale afforestation and reforestation drives to stabilize slopes and improve the soil’s water-absorbing capacity can also be an important step. In addition, designing and building specialized drainage systems that can handle a high volume of rainfall for a short duration should be a priority of the administration in high-risk areas. We have the engineering expertise for these measures but unfortunately not utilised adequately. Developing clear and accessible emergency plans at the community and district levels, outlining evacuation routes, safe shelters, and communication protocols is also necessary to minimize the damage. Testing these capabilities by conducting mock drills at regular intervals will keep the administration galvanised.
The focus should thus shift from a reactive, relief-centric approach to a proactive, holistic strategy that emphasizes prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. The present-day system of using these available technologies to look for survivors buried under debris has lot of limitations and needs much more man power, special helicopters and planes in very adverse circumstances; and the outcomes are rather poor. The poor victims get lot of promises from politicians and their mouthpieces. A number of dignitaries and ministers go to these places getting photo opportunities which at times hampers the relief work due to their security arrangements. The sufferers ultimately have to make their own arrangements and depend upon God and the Deities.
Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul foundation
