Cloudburst calamity in Himachal Pradesh: Past trends show increasing incidents
[...]
Most flash flooding and cloudbursts in the state occurred during the night and early morning. Cloudbursts are phenomena that can happen during heavy rainfall with droplet sizes ranging from 4mm to 6mm. They occur when moisture-rich air ascends a mountainous region, forming vertical columns of Cumulonimbus clouds, which are typically associated with rain, thunder, and lightning. This upward movement of clouds, known as orographic lift, results in unstable cloud formations that can lead to heavy rainfall over a small area.
[...]
Himachal cloudbursts cause floods, damage, and isolation
A document accessed by Ground Report from the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Operation Centre reported cloudbursts and flash floods in Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts. In Kullu, a cloudburst at 1:38 AM near Village Jaon caused the water level of Kurpan Khad to rise, washing away bridges and damaging property. Seven are missing, and two bridges and nine houses were damaged. Heavy rain at 4:55 AM near Sainj washed away a private bus.
[...]
Faiyaz A. Khudsar, a scientist at the Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Delhi University, pointed out that "anthropogenic climate change and elevation-dependent warming have caused the surface temperature in Himachal Pradesh to be higher than the global average."
Khudsar warned that "at the current rate, the average temperature in Himachal could rise by 3-5 degrees Celsius by 2100, making living conditions difficult." He explained that rainfall of 10 centimetres in one hour at a station is classified as a cloudburst.
The Landslide Atlas of India, which is based on satellite data from ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre, shows all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh as susceptible to landslides. The landslide exposure analysis of the mountainous areas covering 147 districts in 17 states put Himachal's Mandi district at 16th place, followed by Hamirpur at 25, Bilaspur at 30, Chamba (32), Solan (37), Kinnaur (46), Kullu (57) Shimla (61), Kangra (62), Una (70), Sirmaur (88) and Lahaul and Spiti (126) in socio-economic parameter risk exposure map.
Way forward
In response to frequent disasters, early warning and land monitoring systems have been installed in vulnerable areas. In 2022, following frequent landslides, such systems were installed at Batseri and Nigulseri in Kinnaur district. The system was installed in 6 sensitive and vulnerable sites, including Pagal Nullah and Malling Nullah.
[...]