Uttarkashi cloudburst: Why is Uttarakhand uniquely vulnerable to torrential rain?

A cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district triggered heavy rains and flash floods on Tuesday (August 5). At least four people have died and several others are feared missing, with Dharali village in Uttarkashi being the worst affected.

Footage of flash floods sweeping homes and buildings has surfaced online. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said they spoken to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, assuring the Centre’s support in rescue operations.

What is a cloudburst and why is it becoming common in Uttarakhand? Let’s take a look.

What is a cloudburst?

A cloudburst is a sudden, intense downpour of rain that occurs over a small area in a short span of time, often leading to flash floods.

A cloudburst event is defined as when rainfall of about 10 cm or above per hour is recorded over a place nearly 10 km x 10 km in area.

Cloudbursts are more common in mountainous regions due to the terrain. At higher altitudes, moisture-laden clouds are unable to generate rain owing to the upward movement of a very warm current of air.

This air current carries raindrops upwards. As they rise, new drops are formed and existing ones grow in size. When the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold, they drop down suddenly at once, according to Indian Express. 

Why Uttarakhand is vulnerable to flash floods

In India, the mountainous areas of the northeast, the Western Ghats and the Himalayas are vulnerable to cloudbursts.

In hilly terrains, there are higher chances of cloudburst as heated air currents rise vertically upwards. Heavy rain caused by the cloudburst usually leads to landslides and flash floods, bringing death and destruction on a large scale.

Uttarakhand witnessed one of its worst disasters in 2013 when a cloudburst triggered devastating floods and landslides that destroyed several villages and towns. More than 6,000 people died and 4,500 villages were affected as the tragedy struck the hill state.

Uttarakhand has experienced several cloudbursts since then. These weather events have surged in recent years due to various factors, including climate change.

According to weather scientist Roxy Mathew Koll, as the air becomes warmer due to climate change, it can hold more moisture for longer. This results in prolonged dry periods with irregular short spells of extreme downpour and higher chances of cloudbursts, reported The Hindu. 

Damage from the cloudbursts is more because of unplanned development in mountain regions, experts say. The unchecked building of roads, dams, and buildings has damaged the region’s natural drainage systems. This has led to a rise in runoff and flooding.

Human activities such as deforestation and land-use change have eroded soil stability, bringing down its ability to absorb rainwater.

The changes have also affected the foundations of mountain slopes, rendering them more prone to landslides .

How bad is the latest cloudburst?

At least four people have died and more than 50 are missing as muddy waters swept Dharali village in Uttarkashi district.

A popular tourist spot, Dharali is the main stopover for going to Gangotri and houses many hotels, restaurants and homestays.

“A landslide struck near Dharali village, approximately 4 km from the Indian Army Camp at Harshil, at around 1:45 PM today,” the Indian Army said in a post on X.

It said more than 20 people have been evacuated, while rescue and search operations continue. “The injured are receiving timely and effective medical attention at the Indian Army’s medical facility in Harshil,” the post added.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also carrying out rescue operations.

The cloudburst swelled the Kheer Ganga river, sending inundated waters downwards the hilly terrain in Dharali, covering roads, buildings and shops.

A local told PTI that about 10-12 people could be buried under the debris, adding that more than 20 hotels and homestays might have been washed away.

PM Modi has offered his “condolences to the people affected by the tragedy” in a post on X.
“I pray for the well-being of all the victims… Relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” he wrote.

Another cloudburst was reportedly reported in Uttarakhand’s Sukhi Top on Tuesday, hours after the Dharali area.

With inputs from agencies