Himalayan Disasters: Beyond 'Cloudbursts' - A Call for Accountability and Proactive Management
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Disaster Management (Flash Floods, Cloudbursts), Geography (Himalayan region, Monsoon), Environment (Climate Change impacts).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Important Geophysical phenomena; geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
GS Paper 3: Disaster and disaster management.
GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Key Highlights from the News
Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district experienced flash floods due to extremely heavy rainfall, highlighting the increasing risks in the Himalayan region.
The article criticizes authorities for often labeling such disasters as 'cloudbursts,' attempting to portray them as unforeseen events.
This label allows the administration to shirk responsibilities and focus solely on compensation instead of structural reforms.
In reality, extreme rainfall events are becoming common due to climate change.
Debris from unscientific infrastructure projects in the Himalayas, when carried by heavy rains, exacerbates the impact of these disasters.
Instead of providing relief after a disaster, the article demands that the government prioritize preventive measures like regular monitoring and removal of debris and silt accumulation in rivers and other critical areas.
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