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Monsoon Floods and Landslides
Context:
Heavy monsoon rains have triggered flash floods, landslides, and infrastructural damage across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh, leading to significant loss of life and property.
Causes of Current Situation
- Excess Rainfall & Cloudbursts: Torrential rainfall in short spans caused rivers such as the Beas in Himachal and Tawi in Jammu to overflow.
- Geological Vulnerability: Himalayan terrain (steep slopes, young fold mountains, loose sediments) is prone to landslides.
- Urbanisation& Road Construction: Encroachments on riverbeds, deforestation, and haphazard road expansion increase vulnerability.
- Climate Change Impact: Increased frequency of extreme rainfall events, a noted trend in IMD reports and IPCC assessments.
Impact
- Human Losses: Multiple deaths reported, including pilgrims on the Vaishno Devi route in Jammu.
- Infrastructure Damage: Collapse of bridges, washing away of highways (e.g., Chandigarh–Manali highway), suspension of schools in Punjab.
- Economic Disruptions: Crops, tourism, and connectivity severely hit; red alert issued in Himachal Pradesh (690 roads blocked).
Institutional Mechanisms for Management
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Apex body for disaster risk reduction.
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) & NDRF: Active in rescue operations.
- Forecasting Agencies: IMD issues heavy rainfall warnings; Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors flood levels.
- Mitigation Programmes: National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (MoEFCC), National Flood Management Programme.
Challenges in Disaster Management
- Lack of early warning dissemination at village level.
- Weak enforcement of building and slope-stabilisation codes.
- Poor coordination between agencies.
- Vulnerable groups (children, pilgrims, farmers) disproportionately affected.
Way Forward
- Scientific Planning:
- Restrict construction in ecologically fragile zones.
- Implement National Landslide Risk Management Strategy
- Infrastructure Resilience:
- Flood-resistant designs, eco-sensitive road construction.
- Nature-based solutions like catchment restoration and afforestation.
- Strengthening Forecasting:
- Hyper-local weather forecasting using AI, satellites, Doppler radars.
- Community Preparedness:
- Local disaster response teams; awareness campaigns.
- Integration of traditional knowledge in hazard mitigation.
- Policy Measures:
- Climate-resilient development planning under SDG-13 (Climate Action).
- Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in all development programmes.
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