NDMA, J&K SDMA launch survey to study causes of cloudbursts, flash floods in Himalayas

Kolkata: At a time when frequent cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides have led to mass disasters and loss of lives in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the recent past, a comprehensive survey has been started by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (J&K SDMA) to gauge the causes of cloudburst and flash floods, tracing the source of gushing water and seeking remedial measures. Satellite mapping is also being done by ISRO to see Himalayan tops, whether any glacial lake, not accessible but flooding, OP MIshra, who is a member of J&K SDMA told ET that they are looking for the causes and remedial measures through this survey.

“The survey by NDMA and J&K SDMA has started the survey to find the source of water, ground situation in the Himalayas, reason for such huge flow of water, causative factors and the future remedial measures to prevent such huge infrastructural damage and life losses. Multi-disciplinary approach has been taken,” Mishra said

“If recurrent losses of lives and destruction of properties happen, construction of disaster-resilient houses, bridges and power plants with proper engineering solutions is the way. A protective plan is important. That is how Japan, which is situated on four tectonic plates, has survived,” Mishra said.


“In the Himalayan areas, it was seen in Uttarkahand’s Dharali that collapse of boulders and landmasses coming out with slurry materials and houses were destroyed and washed out. If there is too much flood, cloudburst and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLAF)-when glaciers melt and lakes are in a half-melted state, due to micro-seismicity, overflowing of lakes happen. It is multi-augmented type of disaster that is taking place,” Mishra, who is also Director of National Centre for Seismology & Advisor to Ministry of Earth Sciences OP Mishra told ET.

“When seismic plates move, it leads to earthquakes and such slurry materials come out. The proxies of climate change show that the modulation of seismicity is also responsible for such cloudbursts and flash floods for this reason. It is happening in polar regions, leading to the increase in melting of the ice and reduction of ice thickness. Thickness of the ice sheet decreases means lithospheric load is decreasing. Too many earthquakes are happening,” Misha said, adding, “There is bumping of earth crust and micro seismicity is taking place. This generates immense energy and it cracks the entire rock masses. Himalaya is a very seismogenic zone-central Himalayas, Kashmir Himalayas and Uttarakhand and Himachal Himalayas.”

On August 6, a huge cloudburst in Uttarakhand caused flash floods that buried or washed away vast portions of the village of Dharali, located along the Bhagirathi river along National Highway 34, that leads to Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand faced another devastating cloudburst incident on August 28, affecting multiple districts including Chamoli and Rudraprayag, causing widespread destruction, loss of lives and trapping 15-20 animals under the rubble.
Gauging the reason behind such incidents, he said, “Too many earthquakes are occurring. If we do a budget of seismicity, it will be seen that almost all rock masses are cracked or fractured. When water comes out, they are gushing out from the fracture and due to hydraulic pressure, widening of rock masses happen.”

A cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban killed at least four people on Saturday. In Reasi, seven members of a family died after a landslide struck and destroyed their house in a remote village.

“Climate Change and Global warming is a global phenomenon but the impact is now very local. In every age, there is Climate change has happened. Dinosaurs disappeared due to climate change 365 million years ago. We are understanding this in Dharali, J&K incidents. With advanced technology, houses should not be built in these regions, closer to Himalayan foothills. This has yielded results in Sikkim,” Mishra pointed out, while speaking to ET at the sidelines of a programme organized by JIS University.

In addition to bringing engineering solutions, so recurrent losses do not happen every year, stoppage of destruction of flora and fauna, creating awareness among local people are also being done by the Centre.