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Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Climate change or Himalayan curse? What led to Uttarakahand cloudbursts - explaining the weather event
NEW DELHI: More than one cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Tuesday triggered flash floods and caused large-scale damage in high-altitude villages such as Dharali and Sukhi Top. The incident is the latest in a series of extreme weather events to hit the region during the monsoon season. Here's a breakdown of what a cloudburst is and why regions like Uttarakhand are at high risk. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst is defined as rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres per hour accompanied by strong winds and lightning, occurring over an area of 20 to 30 square kilometres. However, a 2023 research paper by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu and the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, published in the International Handbook of Disaster Research, defines a cloudburst as a "sudden downpour of rainfall in a range of 100-250 millimetres an hour in a short span covering a smaller spatial extent similar to one square kilometre". The Indian Himalayan region is considered particularly prone to extreme weather, including cloudbursts, flash floods, avalanches, and heavy precipitation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo These risks are projected to increase with climate change. Such events typically occur during the monsoon and can lead to damage to infrastructure and disruption of daily life. 'This results in widespread damage to property and lives, and potential flash floods and landslides. Houses collapse, traffic is disrupted and human casualties occur on a large scale,' the 2023 paper notes. The document further highlights that cloudbursts frequently occur in areas located at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 metres. These include densely populated valleys of the Himalayan range. Uttarkashi, the site of the latest cloudburst, is situated at approximately 1,160 metres above sea level. It also states that cloudburst events per unit area are 'very high in Uttarakhand' compared to other regions in the Indian Himalayas, and recent events have had more severe impacts on local communities. In previous incidents, Uttarakhand has seen similar extreme rainfall events. On July 26, heavy rain in Rudraprayag district triggered a landslide that blocked the trekking route to Kedarnath. Authorities evacuated over 1,600 pilgrims travelling as part of the Chardham yatra. On June 29, a sudden cloudburst at Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg led to damage at an under-construction hotel site, with eight to nine workers reported missing. Experts argue for a stronger policy response and better planning mechanisms to address the growing frequency and impact of such disasters. 'Researchers call for concrete policies, planning and management of cloudburst events by national and global organisations,' the paper concludes.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Uttarakhand cloudburst: Explainer on the extreme weather event
New Delhi: A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district has caused flash floods, wreaking havoc in high-altitude villages of Dharali. Here's an explainer on what a cloudburst is. Counted among the most devastating natural disasters in the Indian Himalayas, a cloudburst causes an enormous amount of rainfall across a limited area within an extremely short span of time. According to the India Meteorological Department, rain falling at a rate of over 100 millimetres an hour with strong winds and lightning across 20-30 square kilometres of area is termed a cloudburst. However, in a 2023 paper, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu, and National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, define cloudburst as a "sudden downpour of rainfall in a range of 100-250 millimetres an hour in a short span covering a smaller spatial extent similar to one square kilometre". It is published in the International Handbook of Disaster Research. The Indian Himalayas are considered vulnerable to unusual and extreme weather events, including cloudbursts, extreme precipitation, flash floods, and avalanches, the risk of all of which is said to increase as climate change intensifies. Extreme rainfall events in the region, including districts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, have been studied to commonly occur during the monsoon season. This results in widespread damage to property and lives, and potential flash floods and landslides. Houses collapse, traffic is disrupted and human casualties occur on a large scale. Occurrence of extreme weather events is frequent for locations at elevation 1000-2000 metres, "which are densely populated valley folds of the Himalayas," the 2023 paper says. Uttarkashi is located at about 1,160 metres above sea level. Further, cloudburst events per unit area are "very high in Uttarakhand", compared to other regions in the Indian Himalayas, with recent events being more severe and impacting more communities, it says. On July 26, heavy rains lashed Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, causing boulders to slide down a hillside and blocking the trekking route to Kedarnath. Over 1,600 Chardham pilgrims were evacuated to safety. A sudden cloudburst on June 29 at Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg in Uttarakhand left an under-construction hotel site damaged and eight to nine workers missing, according to officials. Researchers call for concrete policies, planning and management of cloudburst events by national and global organisations.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Climate
- First Post
Definition to frequency: 4 things to know about Uttarakhand cloudbursts
A cloudburst in Uttarkashi has triggered flash floods, damaging villages in Dharali. Here's what causes such events and why the region is so vulnerable. read more The screengrab shows a deluge triggered by a cloudburst striking Uttarakhand's Kheer Ganga on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. (Photo: PTI) A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district has caused flash floods, wreaking havoc in high-altitude villages of Dharali. What happens in cloudbursts? A cloudburst causes an enormous amount of rainfall across a limited area within an extremely short span of time. How much sudden rain qualifies as a cloudburst? According to the India Meteorological Department, rain falling at a rate of over 100 millimetres an hour with strong winds and lightning across 20-30 square kilometres of area is termed a cloudburst. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, in a 2023 paper, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu, and National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, define cloudburst as a 'sudden downpour of rainfall in a range of 100-250 millimetres an hour in a short span covering a smaller spatial extent similar to one square kilometre'. It is published in the International Handbook of Disaster Research. More from India Indo-American NISAR satellite set for launch: Huge potential to unlock Is a cloudburst in Uttarkashi unusual? Occurrence of extreme weather events is frequent for locations at elevation 1000-2000 metres, 'which are densely populated valley folds of the Himalayas,' the 2023 paper says. Uttarkashi is located at about 1,160 metres above sea level. Further, cloudburst events per unit area are 'very high in Uttarakhand', compared to other regions in the Indian Himalayas, with recent events being more severe and impacting more communities, it says. Is this the first such incident in Uttarakhand? On July 26, heavy rains lashed Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, causing boulders to slide down a hillside and blocking the trekking route to Kedarnath. Over 1,600 Chardham pilgrims were evacuated to safety. A sudden cloudburst on June 29 at Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg in Uttarakhand left an under-construction hotel site damaged and eight to nine workers missing, according to officials.
News18
5 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Uttarakhand cloudburst: Explainer on the extreme weather event
New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district has caused flash floods, wreaking havoc in high-altitude villages of Dharali. Here's an explainer on what a cloudburst is. Counted among the most devastating natural disasters in the Indian Himalayas, a cloudburst causes an enormous amount of rainfall across a limited area within an extremely short span of time. According to the India Meteorological Department, rain falling at a rate of over 100 millimetres an hour with strong winds and lightning across 20-30 square kilometres of area is termed a cloudburst. However, in a 2023 paper, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu, and National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, define cloudburst as a 'sudden downpour of rainfall in a range of 100-250 millimetres an hour in a short span covering a smaller spatial extent similar to one square kilometre". It is published in the International Handbook of Disaster Research. The Indian Himalayas are considered vulnerable to unusual and extreme weather events, including cloudbursts, extreme precipitation, flash floods, and avalanches, the risk of all of which is said to increase as climate change intensifies. Extreme rainfall events in the region, including districts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, have been studied to commonly occur during the monsoon season. Occurrence of extreme weather events is frequent for locations at elevation 1000-2000 metres, 'which are densely populated valley folds of the Himalayas," the 2023 paper says. Uttarkashi is located at about 1,160 metres above sea level. Further, cloudburst events per unit area are 'very high in Uttarakhand", compared to other regions in the Indian Himalayas, with recent events being more severe and impacting more communities, it says. On July 26, heavy rains lashed Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, causing boulders to slide down a hillside and blocking the trekking route to Kedarnath. Over 1,600 Chardham pilgrims were evacuated to safety. A sudden cloudburst on June 29 at Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg in Uttarakhand left an under-construction hotel site damaged and eight to nine workers missing, according to officials. Researchers call for concrete policies, planning and management of cloudburst events by national and global organisations. PTI KRS RT view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 19:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
