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United News of India
20 hours ago
- Climate
- United News of India
Uttarkashi floods not due to glacial burst, says space tech firm
Chennai, Aug 7 (UNI) Suhora Technologies, an Earth observation and space data analytics company today categorically said the flash flood in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand is not due to any glacial burst. Ruling out the theory of glacial burst, Suhora Technologies took help of satellite images and data analytics and said the flood is due to a cloud burst. Suhora Technologies examined data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and also its own comprehensive glacial lake inventory along with cross-checking through high-resolution optical imagery to verify that there are no glacial lakes present upstream of Dharali village, thereby ruling out a glacial burst as the cause of the flash floods. The company conducted the analysis using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical imagery to identify the disaster-hit zones resulting from this catastrophic event. According to the company, it had acquired Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery at 11:01 PM on August 5 through its platform, SPADE, which delivered the image in near real-time, enabling timely and accurate analysis of the disaster. As per the analysis Suhora Technologies said approximately 16 hectares of area have been affected, impacting nearly 148 buildings and resulting in widespread disruption to housing, schools, and public infrastructure. In addition, one bridge has been damaged, and about 0.95 km of road has been affected, leading to significant road closures and interruptions in connectivity. 'This incident is a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to climate-induced natural hazards, emphasizing the need for proactive policy, planning, and community resilience strategies," said Krishanu Acharya, CEO, Suhora Technologies. "Space data analytics can play a critical role in disaster management and can provide actionable insights to government agencies, policymakers and companies, thereby enhancing their ability to respond effectively and build greater resilience against future disasters,' said Acharya. UNI VJ ARN PRS
India Today
a day ago
- Climate
- India Today
The turn that wasn't: How a tampered riverbed turned flood into catastrophe
Two days after a massive mudflow inundated the Dharali village in Uttarkashi, experts are still looking for an answer to pinpoint the exact reason behind the tragedy that has led to at least five deaths and over 60 the verdict is out on the cause of the tragedy, experts are cautioning on why it led to such extensive damage, with hundreds of buildings struck, buried under the debris of mud and loss of life and property could have been exacerbated by encroachment in the riverbed of the Bhagirathi River, according to Prof. K Seshagiri Rao, a renowned geology expert and Emeritus Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Prof. Rao, who was travelling through Rudraprayag, explained that the region experienced heavy rainfall continuously for three to four days, which likely triggered a massive mudflow that struck Dharali. Efforts are being intensified to airlift advanced equipment to Dharali village. (Photo: PTI) RIVEBED ALTEREDWhile mountainous regions often face natural hazards such as cloudbursts, glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and monsoonal mudflows, he emphasised that the scale of destruction seen in Dharali was amplified due to human intervention in the river's natural encroachments and constructions within the riverbed altered the flow dynamics, and when the powerful mudflow struck the built-up areas, it collided with buildings with immense thrust and force, causing catastrophic loss of life and property. The width needed for the mudflow to pass was missing due to construction in and around it, which worsened the disaster. The professor posed critical questions about why constructions in such vulnerable riverbed zones were allowed, highlighting the consequences of unchecked urbanisation driven largely by tourism development in the region. This unplanned expansion into ecologically sensitive and disaster-prone zones has increased the risk exposure of local communities. SATELLITE DATA REVEALS EXTENT OF DAMAGESupporting these observations, recent satellite analyses performed by Suhora Technologies, using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical imagery, revealed the extensive impact of the Uttarkashi data, captured at 11:01 PM on August 5, showed approximately 148 buildings damaged and an area of about 16 hectares affected. The imaging also highlighted damage to critical infrastructure, including one bridge and nearly 0.95 km of roadway, leading to significant disruptions in connectivity and emergency Uttarkashi tragedy highlights the urgent need to regulate and enforce land-use policies to prevent encroachment on riverbeds and other high-risk also calls for sustainable urbanisation practices that respect the natural dynamics of mountainous ecosystems to mitigate loss and enhance community resilience against future disasters. Flash flood damage assessment map. (Photo: Suhora Technologies) As rescue operations in flood-ravaged Uttarkashi entered the third day on Thursday, the Indian Army confirmed that 70 people have been rescued so far, while more than 50 remain are being intensified to airlift advanced equipment to Dharali village—one of the worst-affected areas—to aid in locating those still trapped under debris, officials Army, working in close coordination with local authorities, has scaled up Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in Dharali and the nearby region of Harsil. Both areas remain largely cut off due to extensive landslides and multiple road breaches caused by the flash floods.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
148 buildings hit, bridge destroyed: Satellite reveals scale of Uttarkashi tragedy
Rescue operations in Uttarakhand's flash flood-ravaged Uttarkashi district gained momentum on Thursday, with 65 stranded people airlifted as efforts were also stepped up to airlift advanced equipment to the Himalayan village of satellite analysis has revealed the extensive impact of the Uttarkashi tragedy, with approximately 148 buildings damaged and around 16 hectares of land assessment was conducted by Suhora Technologies using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical imagery to identify the severely impacted The SAR imagery were acquired at 11:01 PM on August 5, providing near real-time data that enabled precise and timely disaster mapping. This advanced imaging technology highlighted the widespread destruction, which includes damage to housing, schools, and various public infrastructure. Flash flood damage assessment map. (Photo: Suhora Technologies) In addition to the buildings and land, critical infrastructure suffered as well: one bridge was damaged, and nearly 0.95 km of roadway has been affected. These damages have resulted in significant disruptions, including road closures and interruptions in connectivity, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected Acharya, CEO of Suhora Technologies, emphasized the wider implications of the incident, stating, 'This incident is a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to climate-induced natural hazards, emphasizing the need for proactive policy, planning, and community resilience strategies.'Acharya also highlighted the vital role space data analytics can play in disaster management, providing actionable insights to government agencies, policymakers, and companies. Such capabilities enhance the ability to respond effectively to emergencies and build stronger resilience against future disasters. With the help of cutting-edge satellite technologies like SAR, authorities can better understand the extent of damage swiftly and implement targeted relief and recovery Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other related agencies are involved in the relief and rescue have blocked arterial roads leading up to Dharali, where dozens of people were trapped and many homes and cars swept away by the raging waters on Tuesday.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
NISAR could've saved lives in Uttarakhand cloudburst
BENGALURU: Had the July 30-launched NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite been operational now, several lives would have been saved through evacuation ahead of the killer cloudburst and flash floods that almost wiped out Dharali village in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday afternoon. The 2,393 kg NISAR's unique dual-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) will employ advanced, novel SweepSAR technique, to provide high resolution and large swath imagery, and will scan the entire globe to provide all-weather, day & night data at 12-day intervals. NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, storm characterization, ice sheet movements and sea ice classification, changes in soil moisture, mapping & monitoring of surface water resources, vegetation dynamics, shoreline monitoring and disaster response. NISAR, carrying the dual-band SAR involving L- & S-Band SAR, is a global, microwave imaging satellite capable of acquiring fully polarimetric and interferometric data. While the S-band radar system, data handling and high-speed downlink system, the spacecraft and the launch system are developed by ISRO, the L-band radar system, high speed downlink system, the solid-state recorder, GPS receiver, the 9-metre boom hoisting the 12-metre unfurlable reflector, are delivered by NASA. A senior official from the regional centre of ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre – which will collect the S-Band data that NISAR's radar will capture and relay – said, 'Although our work of analyzing the satellite images will increase, getting accurate advance information will be crucial. While the existing satellites and various government departments do share advanced information and alerts, the NISAR data will be several steps ahead. It will share better quality and high resolution images of the same location – irrespective of weather and sunshine – of the same location, twice every 12 days. This will help in knowing dangers and issuing alerts to the district and village administrations in advance.'
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
How would NISAR expand our understanding of the Earth?
How would NISAR expand our understanding of the Earth? On July 30, the India-US space collaboration crossed a historic milestone with the successful launch of NISAR, or the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, a flagship earth observation mission jointly developed by the two nations' space programmes. It is the first satellite to use radars of two frequencies — the L-band radar by NASA and the S-band radar by ISRO — to continuously monitor the earth's surface. NISAR is expected to provide unprecedented data on land deformation, ice-sheet dynamics, forest biomass, and natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. With its high-resolution, all-weather, day-night imaging capabilities, NISAR aims to enhance climate resilience, agricultural monitoring, and disaster response. Beyond science, NISAR also holds commercial promise to enable new data services, geospatial analytics, and early-warning systems across sectors such as insurance, infrastructure, and agriculture. Guest: Dr. Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Hosts: Mukunth V, Deputy Science Editor, The Hindu Kunal Shankar, Deputy Business Editor, The Hindu Video edited by Shivaraj S Audio edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
