MAUSAM, 66, 1 (January 2015), 139-144

551.578 (540.27)

Cloudburst and landslides in Uttarakhand : A nature`s fury?

ASHUTOSH MISHRA
Geography Department, University of Allahabad, India
(Received 16 August 2013)
e mail : [email protected]

सार ‒ भारत के उ तराखंड रा य म बादल का फटना बड़ी प्राकितक

ृ आपदाओं म से एक है और इससे इस रा य म
लगभग प्रित वषर् बाढ़ आती है , भू खलन होते ह और बहत ु बड़े पैमाने पर जान-माल की हािन होती है । इस शोध पत्र म
इस रा य म 14 जन ू से 17 जन ू , 2013 के दौरान बादल फटने और भारी वषार् होने के कारण आई बाढ़ और भू खलन
के बारे म उ लेख िकया गया है । उ तराखंड भू खलन के िलए काफी संवेदनशील है और इस रा य के संपूणर् भौगोिलक
क्षेत्र का लगभग तीन चौथाई भाग प्रबल भू खलन जोिखम क्षेत्र के अंतगर्त आता है । यह िवनाशलीला द्रप्रयाग िजला के
रामबाड़ा के िनकट बादल फटने से आरं भ हई
ु और लगातार मसलाधार
ू वषार् होने के कारण इस क्षेत्र की लगभग सभी बड़ी
निदयां, िवशेष प से मंदािकनी और अलकनंदा पानी से लबालब भर गईं। इस क्षेत्र के जल भंडारण वाले थान से पानी
के बाहर बहने से यह पिरघटना और अिधक भयावह बनी। मंदािकनी नदी के ऊपरी जलग्रहण क्षेत्र का लगभग दसवां
भाग बाढ़ और भू खलन के कारण बह गया। यह इस रा य के 80 वष के इितहास म सबसे दखदायी
ु आपदा थी िजसने
80,000 लोग को प्रभािवत िकया। इस शोध पत्र म मानवीय क्षमताओं के ऊपर प्रकृ ित की सव चता को दशार्या गया है
और बताया गया है िक मानव-प्रकित
ृ संबंध म संतलन
ु आव यक है , खास तौर पर ऐसे भू-भाग िजसकी िमट्टी कमजोर है
और नाजक
ु ि थित म है । यह सलाह दी जाती है िक िहमालयी संसाधन का यायोिचत ढं ग से उपयोग िकया जाए और
इस भू-भाग म िवकास योजना को लागू करने के िलए पयार्वरण िहत वाली तकनीक का इ तेमाल िकया जाए।

ABSTRACT. Cloudburst is one of the major natural disasters in Uttarakhand state of India and this brings flash
floods, landslides and massive destruction of property and lives almost every year in the state. The present paper
discusses about flood and landslides which occurred due to cloud burst and heavy downpour in between 14 to 17 June,
2013 in the state. Uttarakhand is very susceptible to landslides and almost three fourth of the total geographical area of
the state comes under sever to high landslide risk zone. The catastrophe started with cloud burst near Rambara in
Rudraprayag district and due to torrential and continuous rainfall, almost all the major rivers and especially the
Mandakini and the Alaknanda swelled up. Overflowing water reservoirs of the region catalysed the severity of the event.
About one tenth of the upper catchment area of Mandakini river swept away due to flood and landslide. This was the
deadliest hazard in 80 years’ history of the state which affected about 80,000 people. The paper reflects the nature`s
supremacy over human potentials and advocates the balanced man-nature relationship, especially in such terrains which
are most fragile and critically balanced. It suggests the judicious use of Himalayan resources and use of environment
friendly techniques in implementing the development plan for the region.

Key words – Debris-laden slopes, Torrential rainfall, ISM, Cumulonimbus convection, Orographic forcing,
Topography, Anthropogenic intervention .

1. Introduction rainfall over a small area (not exceeding 20-30 km2)

lasting for few hours (Sravan Kumar et al., 2012).
Uttarakhand state is well known for frequent
occurrence of natural disasters like cloudburst. Cloudburst Meteorologists say the rain from a cloudburst is
is an extreme form of rainfall, sometimes mixed with hail usually of the shower type with a fall rate equal to or
and thunder, which normally lasts no longer than a few greater than 100 mm (4.94 inches) per hour. During a
minutes but is capable of creating flood conditions. This cloudburst, more than 2 cm of rain may fall in a few
leads to flash floods, landslides, house collapse, minutes (Govind et al., 2012).
dislocation of traffic and human casualties on large scale
(Sati and Maikhuri, 1992). A Cloud-Burst is a localized In India, cloudbursts occur during the monsoon
weather phenomena representing highly concentrated season due to strong convection associated with

(139)
140 MAUSAM, 66, 1 (January 2015)

Fig. 1. Landslide zone map of Uttarakhand

orographic forcing over the Himalayas, Western Ghats 2. The study area
and North-eastern hill states. This convection in the form
of cumulonimbus cloud can rise up to 15 km. Hence, Uttarakhand is the 27th Indian state and the 10th in
thermodynamic and orographic forces act together in the Himalayan region. It lies between 28º 43' and 31º 27' N
formation. Studies have also shown a relationship Latitude and 77º 34' and 81º 02' E Longitude. The total
between the Himalayan topography and the Indian geographical area of the state is 53,483 sq. km., of which
summer monsoon (ISM) on extreme cloudburst event approximately 89% is mountainous. Of the total
(Bhaskaran et al., 1996 ; Barros et al., 2000 ; Kriplani geographical area, about 19 per cent is under permanent
et al., 2003 ; Barros and Lang, 2003 ; Barros et al., 2006 ; snow cover, glaciers and steep slopes. The total
Anders et al., 2006 ; Bookhagen and Burbank, 2006 ; Das population of the state is 10.12 million of which over 6
et al., 2006). million people live in the mountainous parts of the state.

Landslides are the geomorphic expression of the Uttarakhand is a disaster prone state. Landslides,
slope instability that occurs when the shear stress in a forest fires, cloudbursts and flash-floods are seasonal in
part of the slope exceeds the shear strength and this nature and these strike at a certain period of the year with
condition can be achieved : (i) by the increase in pore high frequency. Cloudburst and landslide are the most
water pressure, which eventually decreases the frictional devastating in the mountains and are unpredictable. So
forces and/or (ii) by slope steepening (Crozier, 2004). far, in the recent years (1990 onwards) Uttarakhand has
Landslides are more frequent during monsoon when experienced a series of landslides/cloud burst such as
impervious bedrock creates favourable conditions for Malpa (1998), Okhimath (1998), Fata (2001), Gona
creeping of saturated overburden. Such conditions are (2001), Khet Gaon (2002), Budhakedar (2002), Bhatwari
common on cut slopes along the highways in the (2002), Uttarkashi (2003), Amparav (2004), Lambagar
Himalaya. Shallow landslide may also be initiated due to (2004), Govindghat (2005), Agastyamuni(2005),
under-cutting of ephemeral streams on hill slopes Ramolsari (2005), Asinganga (2012), Kedarnath (2013).
activated due to prolonged or heavy rainfall that also
facilitates soil erosion (Barnard et al., 2001). Hill slopes in About 70 per cent of total geographical area of the
the Himalaya are known for their instability due to state is registered under high to severe landslide
ongoing tectonic activity. However, increasing vulnerability zone (Fig. 1).
anthropogenic intervention in the recent times
appears to be contributing to terrain instability in addition 3. Kedarnath flood : A case
to natural factors, as observed by increasing
frequency and magnitude of landslides since 1970 (Sati The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand was hit
et al., 2011). by torrential rain and cloudbursts in certain locations
 MISHRA : CLOUDBURST & LANDSLIDES IN UTTARAKHAND 141

Fig. 2. Flood and landslide affected districts of Uttarakhand

Fig. 3. Details of flash floods and landslides (Source : NRSC)

between 14 to 17 June, 2013, recording the highest rainfall Bhagirathi) swelled up as a result and given the steep
in 20 years in a three-day period, which triggered gradients in the mountains, the waters along with the silt
landslides and flash floods in multiple locations in the and debris broke all bounds, gathered tremendous
state. The erratic weather conditions attributed to early momentum and swept down as an inexorable force,
monsoons in Northern India. The Himalayan Rivers (the causing widespread destruction in the region. The affected
Ganga and its major tributaries - the Alaknanda and the areas were particularly remote and environmentally
142 MAUSAM, 66, 1 (January 2015)

TABLE 1

District wise rainfall distribution (14-17 June, 2013)

District Actual (mm) Normal (mm) Departure (%)

Almora 208.7 26.3 694%
Bageshwar 391.2 26.3 1387%
Chamoli 316.9 22.6 1302%
Champawat 351 33.5 948%
Dehradun 565.4 36.8 1436%
Garhwal Pauri 149.7 15.8 847%
Garhwal Tehri 327.7 22 1390%
Hardwar 298.8 21.6 1283%
Nainital 506.5 38.8 1205%
Pithoragarh 246.9 73 238%
Rudraprayag 366.3 53.9 580%
Udham Singh Nagar 157.7 40.2 292%
Uttarkashi 375.6 25.8 1356%

fragile, with limited transport connectivity. A perusal of

Table 1 shows the rainfall statistics of the state during the
disaster period. Almost every district received 10 times
greater rainfall than normal.
Fig. 4. Landslide affected areas of Rudraprayag district

Out of thirteen, nine districts were affected by flood

and landslides of which three disricts namely Chamoli, Chatti. Several villages, such as those in Urgam valley,
Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh were heavily affected while viz., Devgram, Bansa, Barginda, Geera, Talla Barginda,
the Rudraprayag district was the worst affected (Fig. 2). Bharki, Beetha, Pilkhi, Aroshi, Salnna, Thenna and Lyari,
as well as Karchhi and Karchhoo villages in Niti valley,
Due to a cloudburst resulting in heavy rains on were completely cut off due to damaged roads and the
14 June, 2013, in Kedarnath, the epicentre of the Govindghat town of the district washed away.
devastation, the banks of the lake Chorbaria Tal (Ghandi-
Sarovar) situated above Kendarnath town burst causing In Uttarkashi the stretch between Uttarkashi to
flash floods and landslides and the town covered with 6 Gangotri damaged completely. The worst affected villages
feet of sludge (Fig. 3). were; Matli, Tiloth, Didsari, Jadau, Bhatwari, Sukhi,
Jhala, Gangori, Ujeli, Josiyara, Maneri, Sayanj,
Downstream villages of Rambara, Gaurikund and Kamakhani, Lagadi, Mandla, Gyansu, Bhatwari, Mukhwa,
Sonprayang were washed away. The river Mandakini Beersari, Bishenpur and Dharali. Ankoli, Darsara, Agora,
served as the axis of the catastrophe in the region. The Dhandatla, Gajoli, Naugaon and Feku were some villages
landslide map of the district (Fig. 4) shows the severity of that lost their connectivity completely.
the calamity.
In pithoragarh district total of 10 villages were
All the major settlements of the district either affected. The worst affected villages in this district lie in
washed away or completely damaged. According to an Dharchula block. The most affected villages were
estimate, 60 villages of the district were completely Munsyari and Dharchula. The Table 3 presents a brief
destroyed (SIT-REP, 2013). account of the damage.

Chamoli district was another worst hit area where 39 The state is known for small hydroelectric projects.
villages were affected. The affected villages were Due to the landslide and flood, 70 hydroelectric plants
Ghangaria, Pulna, Govindghat, Badrinath, Pandukeshwar, were damaged and the water stored in small reservoirs for
Lambagarh, Narayangarh, Pinola, Phaya and Vinayak electricity generation amplified the severity of destruction.
 MISHRA : CLOUDBURST & LANDSLIDES IN UTTARAKHAND 143

TABLE 2

Damage and loss in the flash flood and landslide

No.of No. of houses

Affected No. of villages No. of No. of
persons damages/washed
district affected causalities animals died
missing away
Rudraprayag 60 6000 The causality 700 Approximately
due to the 9500 animals
Chamoli 39 2500 disaster was 130 killed
Uttarkashi 68 3000 1056 as 160
report by
Tehri Garhwal 20 - Govt. 90
Pithoragarh 10 100 25
Bageshwar 8 - 15
Almora 8 - 10
Deheradun - - 1
Pauri 5 - -
218 11600 1131
Source : SIT-REP, Sphere, India (SPHERE India situation report)

4. Conclusion and suggestion steep mountainous regions. A proper assessment and

monitoring plan of urban growth in areas situated in high
This flood was the heaviest and deadliest in 80 years and vulnerable landslislide zones should form part of the
for the state of Uttarakhand. The rainfall received in three strategy to manage and control the disasters in hilly
days in the region was more than the entirety of the terrains which are characterized by vulnerable ecosystem
normal total rainfall Uttarakhand receives in a monsoon and fragile environment.
season. A combination of factors such as degraded forest
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