Cloud Burst: Devastating cloudbursts and heavy monsoon rains have caused devastation in northern India, especially in the states like Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. Due to the heavy downpour, there have been numerous landslides, flash floods, and building collapses that have resulted in serious casualties and property damage.
Himachal Pradesh – Cloudburst Strikes Shimla and Mandi
Two separate cloudburst instances in Himachal Pradesh have resulted in at least three fatalities and approximately 40 people missing. A cloudburst struck the Samej Khad region in the Shimla district’s Rampur sector, leaving around 36 people reported missing. In a comparable occurrence in the Thaltukhod, Padhar subdivision of the Mandi district, one person killed and nine others are reported missing. Numerous bridges have been washed away as a result of the cloudburst, which has severely damaged infrastructure and highways.Teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and state agencies are actively engaged in rescue operations, searching for the missing and helping impacted people.
Uttarakhand – Cloudbursts Claim Lives in Tehri Garhwal and Haridwar
Significant damage has also been caused by cloudbursts in Uttarakhand, a neighbouring state. A cloudburst in Jakhanyali, Tehri Garhwal district, resulted in two fatalities and one injury.The names of the deceased are 45-year-old Anita Devi and 50-year-old Bhanu Prasad. Furthermore, in Haridwar, a severe downpour caused the roof of a run-down house to collapse, killing two children. The victims were recognised as Nagma (8) and Aas Mohammed (10). It has been stated that three of the injured are in critical condition.
Jaipur – Basement Flooding Leads to Casualties
A building’s basement flooded as a result of heavy rainfall in Jaipur, the state capital of Rajasthan, in the Vishwakarma area. Three people, including a 4-year-old child, were killed as a result of the basement filling with water. To evacuate people from the affected area, the police and local authorities carried out rescue efforts.
Climate Change – A Contributing Factor?
Experts believe that the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather occurrences, such as cloudbursts, are mostly caused by climate change. Higher evaporation rates brought on by global warming cause dense cumulonimbus clouds to form, which have the capacity to dump significant volumes of rainfall quickly. An experienced meteorologist from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Anand Sharma, explains that cloudbursts happen when cold air pushes water down through cumulonimbus clouds, causing the clouds to empty. He underlines that, in part because of climate change, the frequency of these occurrences has increased recently.
Mitigating the Risks
Experts advise against excessive deforestation and uncontrolled construction in climate-vulnerable areas like the Himalayas in order to lessen the effects of cloudbursts and flash floods. With significant rainfall expected in the upcoming days, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh. While authorities focus on the need for long-term steps to adapt to the changing climate and reduce the dangers of extreme weather events, they are simultaneously working to give relief and rescue operations to the impacted communities.
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