Deadly flash flood strikes northeast India, claiming at least four lives
Flash Floods and Mudslides Strike Northeast India
Heavy rainfall in a high-altitude village in northeast India has led to a devastating flash flood and mudslides, causing destruction and loss of life. The affected village is Dharali, located in the state of Uttarakhand, in the foothills of the Himalayas.
According to reports from local broadcaster NDTV and the newspaper "India Today," at least four lives have been claimed due to the disaster, with many people still missing. Several houses in Dharali were damaged or completely swept away by the mudslide, and images show house roofs sticking out of the earth and debris.
The Indian Army's central command is involved in the ongoing rescue operations in Dharali, with rescue teams searching for people who may have been buried by mud and debris. The local district administration has not yet provided an update on the number of people missing in the incident.
The trigger for the landslides and flash flood was heavy rainfall, a common occurrence during India's monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. The incident in Dharali is one of many such incidents during the monsoon season in India.
The causes of flash floods and mudslides in India during the monsoon season are multifaceted. About 75% of flash floods occur due to intense rainfall combined with already saturated soil, while rainfall alone causes around 25% of cases. Climate change intensifies monsoon rainfall, disrupts timing, and accelerates glacier melting, leading to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and increased flood risks.
Geographical factors also play a significant role in flash floods and mudslides in India. The Himalayan terrain causes moist monsoon air to produce localized heavy rain, cloudbursts, and sudden floods. Glacier melts also contribute to water surges.
Human activities, such as deforestation, hill-cutting, unplanned urbanization, infrastructure development (roads, hydroelectric projects), and riverbed encroachments, weaken natural terrain stability and disrupt drainage, escalating flood and landslide impacts. Landslides and blocked waterways exacerbate flooding and mudslides during intense rains.
Prevention methods focus on region-specific adaptation and planning, early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, land-use planning and environmental management, monitoring glacier lakes, and community awareness and preparedness. Building flood-resistant roads, drainage, and urban infrastructure to handle variable monsoon impacts, preventing construction in flood-prone and ecologically sensitive zones, and controlling deforestation are some of the key strategies.
Despite the potential danger, rain is essential for plant life and agriculture in India. It is crucial to find a balance between managing the risks associated with flash floods and mudslides and ensuring that the country's agricultural needs are met.
Overall, the interplay of climate change, natural geography, and human intervention drives flash floods and mudslides during India’s monsoon, demanding scientific, data-driven, and regionally tailored risk reduction strategies to minimize harm.
- Environmental scientists are working to understand how climate change intensifies monsoon rainfall, consequently leading to increased incidents of flash floods and mudslides in India, like the one that occurred in Dharali.
- In order to address the issues of flash floods and mudslides in India during the monsoon season, various prevention methods are being implemented, such as climate-resilient infrastructure, land-use planning, and community awareness, guided by the principles of science and environmental science.
