Himalayan Floods

Jammu and Kashmir bore the brunt of monsoon fury on Sunday, accounting for 12 out of 17 deaths reported in rain-related incidents across northern and eastern India. The death toll in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 12 as torrential rains unleashed landslides and flash floods across the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, causing widespread damage to public and private infrastructure including roads and houses. The devastation prompted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to skip National Conference's proposed statehood protest in Delhi on Monday and rush to Jammu to take stock of the emerging situation and oversee relief efforts. Abdullah reached the Civil Secretariat here at 6 pm and chaired a high-level meeting. The worst devastation was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where most of the fatalities occurred, while rescue teams raced against time to trace the missing persons, the officials said. A police official said one more body was recovered in Surankote area of .

More than 1,000 people die every year due to natural disasters in the country

The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Centre and others in a matter regarding the rapid expansion of the Himalayan glacial lakes, raising concerns over the increasing risk of natural disasters. The NGT took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a news report showing about 10.81 per cent increase of the glacial lakes in the last 13 years due to the rising temperatures. According to the report, the melting of glaciers due to increase in temperature paved way for larger glacial lakes, which held more water and, in turn, increased the risk of natural disasters like floods and landslides. In an order passed on November 19, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel said, "The report also notes that the surface area of glacial lakes in India has increased by 33.7 per cent from 2011 to 2024." The tribunal noted the report had outlined the sudden growth of these lakes that posed a heightened risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF

Glacial lakes and other water bodies across the Himalayan region saw a 10.81 per cent increase in area from 2011 to 2024 due to climate change, signalling a heightened risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), according to a government report. The Central Water Commission's (CWC) report, which was accessed by PTI, states that with a 33.7 per cent expansion of the surface area, the lakes in India experienced an even more substantial rise. "The total inventory area of glacial lakes within India was 1,962 hectares during the year 2011 which has increased to 2,623 hectares during the year 2024 (September). There is a 33.7 per cent increase in area," the report said. It also identified 67 lakes in India that witnessed an over 40 per cent increase in surface area, placing them in the high-risk category for potential GLOFs. Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh showed the most notable expansions, signalling a heightened risk of GLOFs and the need for ...

Melting of glaciers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is going to impact the water availability in the Himalayan region with consequent adverse effect on the dependent livelihoods, a leading scientist has warned. Studies show that glaciers in the region have dwindled by 25 per cent in the last six decades, while 48 per cent of them could vanish by the century's end even with moderate climate change. Earth scientist and glaciology expert, Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, voiced concerns, highlighting the significance of snow and glaciers for J&K and Ladakh. "We have about 18,000 glaciers, some of these glaciers are big like the Siachen glacier which in one dimension has a length of about 65 kms. The huge glaciers we have, about 500 to 600 metres thick, are huge resources in J&K and Ladakh," Romshoo told PTI. The scientist noted that under climate change and increasing temperatures, the glaciers in the region are melting. "The other thing that is happening in this region under the climate ...

Flood damage is typically covered under a comprehensive insurance plan that offers protection for damage caused by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and cyclones, as well as accidents

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Hundreds of families who resided in the area have taken shelter in a local school, located a few hundred meters away from the main market square

To some, the scenes were reminiscent of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods that killed over 5,000 people and led to heavy losses to infrastructure and agriculture lands

This problem becomes more urgent as the Himalayas come under pressure from climate change