Cloudburst-Triggered Landslide in Jammu and Kashmir

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

Recently, a cloudburst event in the Ramban tehsil of Jammu and Kashmir led to torrential rains, hailstorms, and winds, causing widespread destruction.

A cloudburst is a localized event with intense rainfall activity. The phenomenon is most common in hilly regions, however it can occur in plains also.
The rainfall of 10 cm or more in an hour over a roughly 10 km x 10 km area is classified as a cloudburst event.
- Also 5 cm of rainfall in a half-hour period over the same area would also be categorized as a cloudburst.

Cloudbursts are more common in hilly areas because of a phenomenon called ‘orographic lift’. When moist, warm air masses approach a mountain range, they are forced to ascend along the slope.
As the air rises, it encounters lower atmospheric pressure, causing it to expand and cool.
The cooling leads to condensation of water vapor, forming dense clouds and typically causing rainfall.

Flash Flood: A flash flood happens quickly, when a lot of rain suddenly enters into the drainage systems (waterbodies, drains), and water overflows.
- Flash floods are more common in hills, because rocky terrain does not absorb water very well.
- Example: The 2013 Kedarnath Disaster involved a cloudburst followed by massive flash floods.
Landslide: Landslides are a geological phenomenon that involves the sudden and rapid movement of a mass of rock, soil, or debris down a slope under the influence of gravity.
Loss of Life and Livelihood: Sudden nature of cloudbursts leaves little time for evacuation. Destruction of homes, agricultural fields, and livestock affects livelihoods, especially in rural and tribal communities.
Damage to Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, power lines, and communication networks are often washed away.
Social Impact: Frequent disasters create trauma, displacement, and migration pressures. Affects education, healthcare, and access to essential services in remote regions.

The Disaster Management Act, of 2005 provides a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the management of various disasters in India.
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has been providing capacity building and other support to various national and state-level disaster management authorities.
Early Warning system:
- India Meteorological Department (IMD), implements the Ensemble Prediction System (EPS), which uses multiple models to improve the accuracy of rainfall predictions.
- Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs): Installed in hilly and vulnerable regions to detect intense rainfall events in real-time.
- Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS): Developed with WMO support to provide early warning for flash floods across South Asia, including India.
Mobile-based Alert Systems: IMD and NDMA use SMS and app-based alerts to inform people in real-time.

To effectively mitigate the impact of cloudbursts, India must adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach that combines scientific forecasting, infrastructural resilience, and community-based preparedness.
Land use planning and zoning regulations must be strictly enforced to prevent construction in high-risk zones.
Urban and rural infrastructure should be designed to handle sudden surges in water flow, with emphasis on stormwater drainage systems, slope stabilization, and rainwater harvesting.
Also there is a need to integrate climate change adaptation into disaster management planning as intensity of such extreme weather events has increased.

Source: IE

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