GUEST COLUMN
Once again, Uttarkashi’s fragile mountains bore the brunt of nature’s fury as a flash flood on August 5 sent debris-laden torrents surging through Dharali and Harshil villages in Uttarkashi district. As lives, infrastructure and the very fabric of community life were torn apart, the question which crops after every such tragedy is- when will we learn? This disaster is a grim reminder of how vulnerable the Himalayan region has become to extreme weather events. Experts point out various reasons behind the Dharali flash floods, including the glacial lake burst, but the truth is that it created havoc in the region.
According to the 6th IPCC report, mountain regions across the globe, especially the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), which include the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), are among the most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. Within India, the western Himalayan region, which covers much of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, are particularly at risk. A 2024 study by Shah and Malakar further confirms that western Himalayan towns are more prone to such hazards compared to the east. Natural disasters like cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods have become tragically common, especially during the monsoon. But in recent years, their intensity has increased, fuelled by a mix of natural and human-induced factors.
The destruction at Dharali follows a now-familiar pattern. Situated on old landslide debris, like Jyotirmath, the village was already on unstable ground. Uttarkashi has witnessed a series of devastating natural disasters over the past decades, each leaving lasting scars on the region. According to the State Disaster Management department, Uttarakhand has recorded 18,464 natural disasters over the past nine years, averaging 2,051 incidents annually. These include cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and more, with heavy rains and flash floods triggered by cloudbursts being the most common at 12,758 incidents, followed by over 4,000 landslides. Uttarkashi alone faced 1,525 incidents. During this period, 3,667 homes were completely destroyed, while over 14,900 suffered partial damage. Uttarkashi and adjoining regions have a history of severe natural hazards, including destructive mass movements.
In 1978, cloudbursts and flash floods triggered widespread flooding and landslides, while a June 1980 landslide claimed 24 lives. The devastating landslide of September 2000 caused extensive damage. These events highlight the urgent need to assess potential hazards and implement effective measures for the safe development of steep mountain slopes and narrow valleys. On September 23, 2003, the massive Varunavat landslide buried residential buildings, hotels and government offices, blocking the national highway for over a month. Despite years of slope stabilisation efforts, the mountain remains unstable, with monsoons in 2015 re-triggering landslides.
The 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake had already weakened the region, creating cracks in hillsides and destabilising slopes- a situation worsened by unchecked construction, forest fires and rock disintegration. In August 2010, sudden land subsidence in Bhatwadi, linked to blasting for the under-construction Pala Maneri hydropower project, split the main Gangotri road with a 4–6 metre-deep crack, isolating villages and pilgrims. The area has since been declared a “sinking zone.”
Another blow came in August 2012 when a cloudburst triggered massive flash floods in the Asi Ganga valley, washing away bridges and roads. Thousands of tourists and locals were stranded, and the damaged infrastructure remains unrestored. The region’s fragile geology, combined with high rainfall and human activity, continues to fuel slope instability, putting lives and livelihoods at perpetual risk. What makes places like Dharali especially vulnerable isn’t just geography; it’s uncontrolled construction. In Uttarakhand, building near rivers, on steep slopes, or even on top of dry seasonal streams (nalas) is a widespread practice. Government buildings, private homes and hotels are often found right on the riverbanks or in debris-prone zones, disaster waiting to happen. Despite the devastating Kedarnath tragedy of 2013, where thousands perished in a catastrophic flash flood, very little has changed in our approach to development.
While the government had issued advisories post-Kedarnath to prevent construction near rivers, enforcement has remained weak. Warnings are repeated every year, especially during the monsoon, urging tourists and pilgrims to avoid high-risk zones. But they often go unheeded. A part of the problem lies in the ‘motivation’ behind the booming Char Dham Yatra economy. The annual pilgrimage brings in lakhs of devotees, and with them, a rush to build hotels, restaurants and guesthouses. The business model of the Yatra season, coupled with a lack of regulation, has led to rampant, unplanned and environmentally dangerous construction. Traditional architectural wisdom has been replaced by concrete jungles in seismic and landslide-prone zones. Several towns across Uttarakhand including Jyotirmath, Gopeshwar, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, Srinagar, Batwari, Ghansali, Agastyamuni, Satpuli and even Uttarkashi itself, now live under the looming threat of a Dharali-like tragedy. These towns, built on landslide debris, with overstretched infrastructure and poor drainage, are highly susceptible to sudden disasters. Nature has been giving us clear signs, warning after warning. But our short memory, unchecked greed, and neglect of ecological realities are turning the Himalaya into a death trap.
The repercussions of these disasters are often irreversible, leaving lasting scars on the region’s economy, environment and social fabric. One of the most severe consequences is the loss of livelihood for the majority of the local population. In regions like Dharali, where the economy is heavily dependent on tourism and related services, such events have dealt a crippling blow. The once-vibrant local economy has been severely disrupted, with small businesses, hotels, transport services and handicraft markets facing sharp declines in income.
The socio-economic impact of disaster includes loss of lives, physical injury, and people of the region who are exposed to such disasters frequently experience severe psychological distress, which includes an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The destruction of roads in Dharali disrupts connectivity, severely hampering people’s access to essential needs such as water, food, and medicines. As seen in past disasters, the long-term consequences extend beyond physical hardship, often leading to significant psychological impacts on the affected population. The identity and cultural essence (astitva) of the region is also under threat, mirroring the fate of other severely affected areas such as Narayanbagad, Agastyamuni, Jyotirmath and Rambada, which have seen parts of their communities vanish under the impact of floods, landslides and unplanned development in the past. For Dharali, the disaster has not only destroyed physical infrastructure but also eroded the social and cultural fabric that sustained its people for generations. When it comes to rehabilitation status in the State, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has identified 465 families for relocation from disaster-prone areas in year 2021, a number that has since risen to 484. However, rehabilitation is delayed mainly due to a shortage of government land. To address this, the State government revised its rehabilitation policy in 2021, permitting the relocation of vulnerable villages to forestland.
The recent crises in Jyotirmath and Dharali are expected to add further pressure to this already challenging situation. Dharali is not an exception, it’s a symptom of a larger crisis, one we continue to ignore at our own peril. Development efforts that ignore the potential for disaster-related losses will not be enduring. The unscientific construction of multistorey structures is also a significant issue in the region. Road construction and frequent explosions have irrevocably harmed the region’s delicate ecosystem. Changes in agricultural practices may also contribute to the occurrence of landslides. It is essential to identify regions that are relatively more susceptible to natural disasters.
It is advised that structures should not be constructed near active landslide zones. Prior to construction, slope stability and ground conditions must be extensively investigated. Even though the government is conducting a variety of public awareness activities, disaster management activities should be mandated for the residents of this region. We cannot prevent disaster, but with proper disaster management, we can curtail the socio-economic impact of the disaster. Post-disaster impacts can be significantly reduced when greater emphasis is placed on pre-disaster preparedness. UN studies indicate that every dollar invested in climate-resilient infrastructure can save up to six dollars in disaster response and recovery. Although the government is better prepared than before for these tragedies, the local people also need to understand their roles and responsibilities and become smart citizens. The role of technology in disaster mitigation is effective. In vulnerable areas, equipment that can precisely estimate the intensity of rainfall, flood siren system, should be installed.
Technology can help prevent disasters, and in areas that are at risk, it’s important to install equipment that accurately measures rainfall and flood sirens, as well as train or inform local people regarding these. Additionally, raising awareness about disaster mitigation through social media platforms can be highly effective in educating the public and ensuring timely information dissemination during emergencies.
In order to comprehensively assess the impact of heavy construction on the eco sensitive region, it is essential to dig deeper into the concept of carrying capacity. If nothing is done, severe disasters will continue to occur in the future, and we cannot predict how many people will have to endure the suffering of disaster throughout their lives. Therefore, disaster mitigation should be an integral part of any development plan in vulnerable areas.
(Semwal is head of political science department at HNB Garhwal Central University, Rawat is senior research fellow in the department; views expressed are personal)
