A landslide 20 kilometres west of Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest peak, resulted in a flash flood on Feb. 7 that left more than 200 dead, and swept away two state hydro-electric projects, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters.
Avalanches and flash flooding in the Himalayas are common during summer and monsoon months, as melting snow and heavy rains combine. But incidents like this are rare so early in the year, alarming scientists studying climate change that is rapidly heating the world’s highest mountains.
Scientists are still studying the details of exactly what happened, but said heavy snowfall followed by bright sunshine led to snow-melt in the area.
That could have triggered a chain reaction that led to an avalanche and heavy flow of ice, water, rocks and debris surging down the Dhauliganga River valley and destroying villages. While at least 70 bodies were recovered, the state government has formally declared that another 136 people missing are presumed dead.
Dave Petley, Professor of Geography at The University of Sheffield, told Reuters that there was a reduction in the amount of snow, which could have helped trigger the landslide, but not enough to cause downstream flooding.
“There was clearly a thaw event happening at the time of the landslide. But this looks to be superficial snow only, not large volumes,” said Petley, who studies landslide events.
The disaster has prompted calls by environmental groups for a review of power projects in the ecologically sensitive mountains. Experts say rampant construction is adding to the burden weighing on rural communities across the Himalayas, especially in areas close to glaciers.
Words fail as 2,000-pound bombs shred lives and limbs. The sheer number of children killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza…
On Tuesday, May 7, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission had turned a blind eye…
On 14 August 2023, heavy rainfall in North India triggered flash floods and landslides, devastating the region. Kishori Lal, the…
Protest movements can look very different depending on where you stand, both literally and figuratively. For protesters, demonstrations are usually…
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), governments, and corporations across 160 countries consider or approve more than one investment per day in…
Print and electronic media are coping admirably with the upheavals being wrought by social media. When 29-year-old YouTuber Dhruv Rathee…
This website uses cookies.