Himalayan Flash Floods: Climate Change Worsens Them, But Poor Planning Makes Them Deadly

Strategic Insights -

Rising temperatures can lead to more intense and erratic rainfall, increasing the likelihood of cloudbursts and glacial lake outbursts in the Himalayas. However, focusing solely on climate change overlooks the critical role of poor planning and reckless construction in making these disasters more devastating. The recent flash flood in Dharali, a village in the Indian Himalayas, is a poignant reminder that much of the destruction is preventable, and our own decisions can magnify the risks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Himalayas see flash floods caused by cloudbursts or glacial lake outbursts during every monsoon season, with devastating consequences.
  • Cloudbursts and glacial lake outbursts send huge volumes of water rushing down steep valleys, picking up mud, rocks, and trees, and turning into debris-laden flash floods.
  • The damage is not inevitable, and the devastation caused by these flash floods is shaped by where and how we build.
  • Poor planning and reckless construction have put people in harm's way, with roads, hotels, and entire towns expanding into zones that geomorphology tells us are flood-prone.
  • Much of the destruction is preventable, and our own decisions can magnify the risks.
  • Ignoring geomorphology has serious consequences, including billions spent on disaster relief and rebuilding after every monsoon.
  • For governments, it means billions spent on disaster relief and rebuilding after every monsoon.
  • For developers, it means investments washed away in a single night.
  • For tourists, it means the risk of being caught in floods during what should be a holiday.
  • For mountain communities, it means living in constant danger.

Statistics:

  • Dharali, the village hit by the flash flood, has faced flash floods before, with the Kalp Kedar Hindu temple being buried multiple times, most recently in 2013.
  • The damage caused by flash floods in the Himalayas is estimated to be in the billions, with much of it attributed to poor planning and reckless construction.
  • The Indian Himalayas see a significant number of flash floods every monsoon season, with the number of affected people and properties being substantial.

Sources:

  • The Conversation, "Himalayan flash floods: climate change worsens them, but poor planning makes them deadly" [article]