India often faces natural calamities like earth quakes, landslides, floods, cyclones and drought ... more India often faces natural calamities like earth quakes, landslides, floods, cyclones and drought occurring fairly frequently in different parts of the country. At times, the same area is subjected to one or more of these disasters situation in successive seasons or years. While not all natural calamities can be predicted and prevented, a state of preparedness and ability to respond quickly to a natural calamity can considerably mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering and restore normalcy at the earliest. Hence it is important for a detailed study and analysis of each disaster. Against this background, this paper reviews the different possible causes behind the Uttarakhand Disaster of 15-17th June 2013 in detail. Uttarakhand district lies on the southern slope of the Himalayan range. The climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations. The district, in general, is prone to different disasters and the order of severity of damage are; earthquakes, excessive rains and cloud bursts, landslides, floods, forest fires and hailstorms. However, there have been numerous debates and controversies ever since the flash floods hit the state of Uttarakhand in June 2013. This has been one of the worst Himalayan tragedies in recent years in which the actual number of people buried or perished is not known as thousands are still missing. The entire Rambara, a large part of Gaurikund and many villages of Mandakini valley were also fully wiped out. Government sources have reported large number of deaths including missing of over ~5000 people in the wake of the devastating flooding. The death toll of 5,748 tops India's previous record worst monsoon flood death toll of 4892 set in July 1968 in Rajasthan and Gujarat provinces. The fact remains the same that the torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that hit Uttarakhand's Hindu shrine in Kedarnath, which lies just a short distance from the snout of two mountain glaciers. From 15 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and adjoining area received heavy rainfall, which was about 375% more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon. This might have caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres, and eruption of the Mandakini River which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some adjoining areas. It has been reported that the complete destruction of Mandakini River in Kedarnath on 16th and 17th June 2013 which resulted in large number of casualties especially among the floating population of pilgrims could have been avoided, if some regulations was in place to counter the mushrooming of different types of dwelling places in Kedarnath. In this context, it is important to understand torrential rain induced geodynamic processes of flash flood resulting rock falls and debris flow, Chorabari lake collapse and deposition of glacial material. This paper review the different scientific studies that have emerged during the last six months emphasizing Meteorological, Geological, Anthropogenic and other causes that lead to this catastrophic disaster.
India often faces natural calamities like earth quakes, landslides, floods, cyclones and drought ... more India often faces natural calamities like earth quakes, landslides, floods, cyclones and drought occurring fairly frequently in different parts of the country. At times, the same area is subjected to one or more of these disasters situation in successive seasons or years. While not all natural calamities can be predicted and prevented, a state of preparedness and ability to respond quickly to a natural calamity can considerably mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering and restore normalcy at the earliest. Hence it is important for a detailed study and analysis of each disaster. Against this background, this paper reviews the different possible causes behind the Uttarakhand Disaster of 15-17th June 2013 in detail. Uttarakhand district lies on the southern slope of the Himalayan range. The climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations. The district, in general, is prone to different disasters and the order of severity of damage are; earthquakes, excessive rains and cloud bursts, landslides, floods, forest fires and hailstorms. However, there have been numerous debates and controversies ever since the flash floods hit the state of Uttarakhand in June 2013. This has been one of the worst Himalayan tragedies in recent years in which the actual number of people buried or perished is not known as thousands are still missing. The entire Rambara, a large part of Gaurikund and many villages of Mandakini valley were also fully wiped out. Government sources have reported large number of deaths including missing of over ~5000 people in the wake of the devastating flooding. The death toll of 5,748 tops India's previous record worst monsoon flood death toll of 4892 set in July 1968 in Rajasthan and Gujarat provinces. The fact remains the same that the torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that hit Uttarakhand's Hindu shrine in Kedarnath, which lies just a short distance from the snout of two mountain glaciers. From 15 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and adjoining area received heavy rainfall, which was about 375% more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon. This might have caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres, and eruption of the Mandakini River which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some adjoining areas. It has been reported that the complete destruction of Mandakini River in Kedarnath on 16th and 17th June 2013 which resulted in large number of casualties especially among the floating population of pilgrims could have been avoided, if some regulations was in place to counter the mushrooming of different types of dwelling places in Kedarnath. In this context, it is important to understand torrential rain induced geodynamic processes of flash flood resulting rock falls and debris flow, Chorabari lake collapse and deposition of glacial material. This paper review the different scientific studies that have emerged during the last six months emphasizing Meteorological, Geological, Anthropogenic and other causes that lead to this catastrophic disaster.
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different parts of the country. At times, the same area is subjected to one or more of these disasters situation in successive
seasons or years. While not all natural calamities can be predicted and prevented, a state of preparedness and ability to
respond quickly to a natural calamity can considerably mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering and restore
normalcy at the earliest. Hence it is important for a detailed study and analysis of each disaster. Against this background, this
paper reviews the different possible causes behind the Uttarakhand Disaster of 15-17th June 2013 in detail. Uttarakhand
district lies on the southern slope of the Himalayan range. The climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from
glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations. The district, in general, is prone to different
disasters and the order of severity of damage are; earthquakes, excessive rains and cloud bursts, landslides, floods, forest fires
and hailstorms. However, there have been numerous debates and controversies ever since the flash floods hit the state of
Uttarakhand in June 2013. This has been one of the worst Himalayan tragedies in recent years in which the actual number of
people buried or perished is not known as thousands are still missing. The entire Rambara, a large part of Gaurikund and
many villages of Mandakini valley were also fully wiped out. Government sources have reported large number of deaths
including missing of over ~5000 people in the wake of the devastating flooding. The death toll of 5,748 tops India's previous
record worst monsoon flood death toll of 4892 set in July 1968 in Rajasthan and Gujarat provinces. The fact remains the
same that the torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that hit Uttarakhand's Hindu shrine in Kedarnath, which lies just
a short distance from the snout of two mountain glaciers. From 15 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and
adjoining area received heavy rainfall, which was about 375% more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon.
This might have caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres, and eruption of the Mandakini River
which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western
Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some adjoining areas. It has been
reported that the complete destruction of Mandakini River in Kedarnath on 16th and 17th June 2013 which resulted in large
number of casualties especially among the floating population of pilgrims could have been avoided, if some regulations was in
place to counter the mushrooming of different types of dwelling places in Kedarnath. In this context, it is important to
understand torrential rain induced geodynamic processes of flash flood resulting rock falls and debris flow, Chorabari lake
collapse and deposition of glacial material. This paper review the different scientific studies that have emerged during the last
six months emphasizing Meteorological, Geological, Anthropogenic and other causes that lead to this catastrophic disaster.
different parts of the country. At times, the same area is subjected to one or more of these disasters situation in successive
seasons or years. While not all natural calamities can be predicted and prevented, a state of preparedness and ability to
respond quickly to a natural calamity can considerably mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering and restore
normalcy at the earliest. Hence it is important for a detailed study and analysis of each disaster. Against this background, this
paper reviews the different possible causes behind the Uttarakhand Disaster of 15-17th June 2013 in detail. Uttarakhand
district lies on the southern slope of the Himalayan range. The climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from
glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations. The district, in general, is prone to different
disasters and the order of severity of damage are; earthquakes, excessive rains and cloud bursts, landslides, floods, forest fires
and hailstorms. However, there have been numerous debates and controversies ever since the flash floods hit the state of
Uttarakhand in June 2013. This has been one of the worst Himalayan tragedies in recent years in which the actual number of
people buried or perished is not known as thousands are still missing. The entire Rambara, a large part of Gaurikund and
many villages of Mandakini valley were also fully wiped out. Government sources have reported large number of deaths
including missing of over ~5000 people in the wake of the devastating flooding. The death toll of 5,748 tops India's previous
record worst monsoon flood death toll of 4892 set in July 1968 in Rajasthan and Gujarat provinces. The fact remains the
same that the torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that hit Uttarakhand's Hindu shrine in Kedarnath, which lies just
a short distance from the snout of two mountain glaciers. From 15 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and
adjoining area received heavy rainfall, which was about 375% more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon.
This might have caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres, and eruption of the Mandakini River
which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western
Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some adjoining areas. It has been
reported that the complete destruction of Mandakini River in Kedarnath on 16th and 17th June 2013 which resulted in large
number of casualties especially among the floating population of pilgrims could have been avoided, if some regulations was in
place to counter the mushrooming of different types of dwelling places in Kedarnath. In this context, it is important to
understand torrential rain induced geodynamic processes of flash flood resulting rock falls and debris flow, Chorabari lake
collapse and deposition of glacial material. This paper review the different scientific studies that have emerged during the last
six months emphasizing Meteorological, Geological, Anthropogenic and other causes that lead to this catastrophic disaster.