Landslides and Floods in Darjeeling Highlight Compounding Risks
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Geography (Himalayan region, River systems - Teesta, Transboundary rivers); Disaster Management (Landslides, Floods, Role of IMD, NDRF); Indian Polity and Governance (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration - GTA).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography): Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, floods, landslides etc., their causes and effects.
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations (related to transboundary water issues with Bhutan).
General Studies Paper 3 (Disaster Management & Environment): Disaster and disaster management.
Key Highlights from the News
Heavy landslides and floods in northern districts of West Bengal like Darjeeling and Kalimpong due to torrential rain. 23 people died.
Main reasons for the disaster:
Over 300 mm of rain received within 12 hours.
Excess water flowing in from rivers like Sankosh and Teesta from Bhutan and Sikkim.
Inability to open the gates of the Tala Hydropower Dam in Bhutan, exacerbating the situation with overflowing water. This is an example of a transboundary disaster.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued the highest warning, a red alert, for these areas.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed for rescue operations.
This incident is an example of how extreme rainfall, unscientific construction activities, and transboundary river water issues can lead to a major disaster in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
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