Flash flood tears through Himalayan village in India
Flash flood tears through Himalayan village in India
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CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Deadly Indian Himalayan flood likely caused by glacier collapse, experts say
NEW DELHI: A deadly wall of muddy water that swept away an Indian Himalayan town this week was likely caused by a rapidly melting glacier exacerbated by the rising effects of climate change, experts said on Thursday (Aug 7). Scores of people are missing after water and debris tore down a narrow mountain valley, smashing into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state on Tuesday. Several people could be seen in videos running before being engulfed as waves uprooted entire buildings, leaving others smothered in freezing sludge. At least four people have been confirmed killed, but at least 50 others are missing. Government officials said shortly after the disaster that the flood was caused by an intense "cloudburst" of rain. However, experts assessing the damage suggested that it was only the final trigger, adding to days of prolonged rains that had already soaked and loosened the ground. PK Joshi, of New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, an expert on Himalayan hazards, said it appeared the flood was caused by the collapse of debris - known as moraine - that had dammed a lake of meltwater from a retreating glacier. "Given the persistent rainfall over preceding days and the sudden discharge observed, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) or collapse of a moraine-dammed lake is suspected as the primary trigger," Joshi told AFP. That would have contributed to a "sudden high energy flash flood", he said, noting that glacial terrain upstream of the town included "unstable sediment zones". Cloud cover has obstructed satellite imagery to check for the exact source of the debris, and Joshi cautioned that there was not enough satellite data for a "definitive confirmation". "DISASTER SEVERITY" Safi Ahsan Rizvi, an adviser to the National Disaster Management Authority, also said that it was "likely" that the cause was a "glacio-fluvial debris landslide". Sandip Tanu Mandal, a glaciologist at New Delhi's Mobius Foundation, also pointed to the "possibility of a GLOF", caused by "significant water accumulation in the lake due to increased melting and rainfall". Mandal noted that while heavy, the amount of rain immediately before the flood was "not very significant" in comparison to the vast volumes of water that poured down the valley. That would indicate the source was a potentially collapsing lake. Himalayan glaciers, which provide critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn. The softening of permafrost increases the chances of landslides. Joshi said the latest disaster "highlights the complex and interconnected nature of Himalayan hazards". Rapid development and building downstream meant that the damage caused was multiplied.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Indian army searches for scores missing after deadly floods in Uttarakhand
The search for more than 100 people still missing is underway after heavy downpours triggered flash floods and landslides in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. At least four people have been killed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered condolences to victims, while authorities continue rescue efforts amid challenging conditions.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Indian army searches for scores missing after Himalayan flood kills 4
NEW DELHI: The Indian army brought in sniffer dogs, drones and heavy earth-moving equipment on Wednesday (Aug 6) to search for scores of people missing a day after deadly Himalayan flash floods. At least four people were killed and more than 50 are unaccounted for after a wall of muddy water and debris tore down a narrow mountain valley, smashing into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state, rescue officials said on Wednesday. Torrential monsoon rains continue to pour down, hampering rescue efforts, with communication limited and phone lines damaged. But as soldiers and rescue teams reached marooned individuals, assessment of the number missing has been reduced, down from around 100 who were reported to be unaccounted late on Tuesday. "The search for the missing is ongoing", said Mohsen Shahedi, from the National Disaster Response Force. Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region on Tuesday afternoon. Shahedi said more than 50 people were missing from Dharali, the town hit by the floods, while 11 soldiers were unaccounted for from the nearby downstream village of Harsil. "Additional army columns, along with army tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones, earthmoving equipment etc, have been moved ... to hasten the efforts", the army said on Wednesday. Military helicopters were flying in "essential supplies", it added, as well as collecting those stranded after roads were swept away, although rain and fog made flights difficult. "UNIMAGINABLE SCALE" Uttarakhand state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the flood was caused by an intense "cloudburst" of rain, and that rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing". Several people could be seen running before being engulfed by the dark waves of debris that uprooted entire buildings. Suman Semwal told Indian Express newspaper that his father saw the flood hitting Dharali with a "rumbling noise" from a village uphill. What he saw was on an "unimaginable scale", he said. "They tried to scream, but could not make themselves heard," Semwal told the newspaper. "The people couldn't comprehend what was happening. The flood waters struck them in 15 seconds," he said. A large part of the town was swamped by mud, with rescue officials estimating it was 15m deep in places, swallowing some buildings entirely. Images released by the army and government rescue teams showed men heaving rocks by hand and earth movers removing debris to clear roads. Government weather forecasters said on Wednesday that all major rivers in Uttarakhand were flowing above the danger mark. "Residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains," the army added. Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September, but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity. The United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable. Hydrologist Manish Shrestha said the 270mm of rain within 24 hours counted as "an extreme event". Shrestha, from the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said such rain in mountains had a "more concentrated" impact than on flatter lowlands.
