News Highlight
At least 25 people were killed as torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Key Takeaway
- As currents washed away bridges and vehicles, several arterial roads were blocked by debris.
Immediate and secondary damage
- Immediate damage:
- Death
- damage to property
- Secondary damages:
- Schools and transport facilities are immediately put out of action, which leads to a loss of productive hours.
- It destroys livelihoods, weakens family finances, and puts a strain on the state exchequer.
Challenging factors
- Monsoon rainfall:
- The monsoon compresses around 75% of India’s annual rainfall into four months.
- Due to the highly diverse terrain, some spots are far more vulnerable to monsoon rainfall.
- E.g. Mountain areas are highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
- The unique challenges:
- The hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand face particular and distinctive difficulties. Disruptions in monsoon rain patterns are causing an increase in cloudburst-like phenomena as well as an increase in the frequency of high-energy cyclones and droughts.
- Infrastructural development:
- It is well known that building infrastructure has inherent hazards due to the expense and environmental harm caused by slopes and unstable terrain.
Way forward
- Early warning:
- The India Meteorological Department now provides fortnightly, weekly and even three-hourly weather forecasts to districts.
- Regulation of construction activities:
- Minimising construction along riverbanks while paying particular attention to water level during times of severe rain.
- Adopting eco-friendly approaches:
- Adopting eco-friendly policies and eco-sensitive tourism is essential for developing the ecologically vulnerable region.
- E.g. the use of geotextiles for road and railway embankments.
- Rehabilitation:
- The government should make policies to rehabilitate people from climate-vulnerable areas to safe locations.
Content Source: The Hindu