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Flood

Flood

How to minimize disaster risk for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF)

How to minimize disaster risk for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) Suitably called Earth's “Third Pole”, the Himalayan region is home to the largest ice mass outside of the planet's Polar Regions. The glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a faster rate creating new lakes and expanding the existing ones. Besides, the rising temperatures and extreme precipitation events make the region increasingly prone to a variety of natural hazards, including devastating glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). GLOFs occur when either a natural dam containing a glacial lake bursts or when the lake's level suddenly increases and overflows its banks,…

28 June, 2021 Flood

The agonising cost of ham-handed development

The agonising cost of ham-handed development Introduction Following flash floods at Chamoli in Uttarakhand, Social scientists are assessing the disaster’s impact on the region’s economy. News reports of ancient temples having been swept away in the Alakananda’s raging waters are bringing back traumatic memories of the Kedarnath floods in 2013. How did the Uttarakhand Himalayas emerge as a deva bhumi and how did it develop into a focus of Hindu pilgrimage? A study of the archaeological record and inscriptional evidence suggests that many and varied agents and processes played important roles in gradually transforming this borderland into a sacred landscape.…

12 February, 2021 Flood

Uttarakhand floods

Uttarakhand floods Introduction The staggering collapse of part of a glacier in Uttarakhand’s Nanda Devi mountain and the ensuing floods that have claimed many lives come as a deadly reminder that this fragile, geologically dynamic region. Reason of flash floods A significant slice of the glacier, dislodged by a landslide, produced roaring torrents in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers in Chamoli district, trapping unsuspecting workers at two hydro power project sites (Tapovan project and Tapovan-Vishnughad project). Risks of hydroelectric power projects Once the crucible of environmentalism, epitomised by Sunderlal Bahuguna, Gaura Devi and the Chipko movement. The State’s deep gorges…

09 February, 2021 Flood

Nanda Devi Glacial Burst in Uttarakhand: Important PT Points

Nanda Devi Glacial Burst in Uttarakhand: Important PT Points The glacial burst at the Nanda Devi glacier caused flash floods in Dhauliganga & Rishiganga rivers. The tapovan-Vishnugad project located on the Dhauliganga river was washed away. While Rishiganga hydel project was located on Rishiganga River. Originating at Vasudhara Tal, a glacial lake in Uttarakhand, the Dhauliganga flows in a meandering course, which takes it through the Nanda Devi National Park. Additional Info About these River Systems: Dhauliganga  river meets River Alaknanda at Vishnuprayag. Dhauliganga is joined by Rishiganga river at Raini. Pindari River meets Alaknanda River at Karnaprayag. Mandakini River…

08 February, 2021 Flood

Time for a ‘sponge cities’ mission in India

Time for a ‘sponge cities’ mission in India Context In the recent Hyderabad floods, hundreds of riverbed hutments were flushed away. Thousands of homes remain submerged two weeks after the flood. The scale of destruction has been unprecedented. This experience is not unique to the city of Hyderabad but something that cities across India have been experiencing in recent years. Barely five years ago, it was Chennai that saw a massive flood costing much damage and lives; Gurugram over the past few years comes to a complete standstill during the monsoon months, and for Mumbai, the monsoon has become synonymous…

31 October, 2020 Flood

Dealing with a deluge: On Hyderabad floods

Dealing with a deluge: On Hyderabad floods Context As floods swamp Hyderabad, the focus is on the inadequacy of drainage infrastructure Causes of Hyderabad floods: A deep monsoon depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal, which weakened as it moved over Telangana, resulted in downpours over several districts in the State, severely affecting the city of Hyderabad as well. The monthly average rainfall of Hyderabad for October (103.6 mm according to Skymet) was surpassed on a single day when 192 mm of rain fell. According to the India Meteorological Department, this is the highest rainfall for October recorded in Telangana’s…

16 October, 2020 Flood

Playing catch up in flood forecasting technology

Playing catch up in flood forecasting technology Context: The article analyzes the current flood forecasting system in India and its lacunae and suggests appropriate measures to improve it. Floods in India: Floods have been a recurrent phenomenon in India and cause huge losses to lives, properties, livelihood systems, infrastructure and public utilities. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, around 40 million hectares of land in India are exposed to floods (around 12 percent of the total land area). The most flood-prone basins are those of the Ganga and Brahmaputra in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, followed by…

08 October, 2020 Flood

Gearing up for floods during coronavirus pandemic

Gearing up for floods during coronavirus pandemic Part of: GS-III- Disaster management (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The National Disaster Response Force is preparing to face the twin challenges in many States. With the monsoon around the corner, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is preparing to face the twin challenge of coronavirus (COVID-19) and floods in different parts of the country. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a normal monsoon, which is expected to hit Kerala on June 1. Action plan Over the past week, the NDRF has been working on an action plan to meet all possible exigencies. The top brass…

29 April, 2020 Flood

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