The year 2025 will be remembered for its devastating monsoon. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana are the worst-affected states. Rainfall broke all previous records, with a few places receiving more than 200% of their normal rainfall.(seehttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wdr08wq2zo)
Reason of Intense Monsoon
- The reason for the high rainfall is the mixing of the Western Disturbance and the Southeast Monsoon. The Western Disturbance flows from the Mediterranean Sea toward the east and passes through north India, bringing winter rainfall.
- Every summer, this disturbance typically moves toward Central Asia and is replaced by equatorial winds. However, from the beginning of this year, the Western Disturbance remained over north India. When monsoonal winds invaded from the south, it resulted in intense rainfall. ( see Climate Classification of Himachal Pradesh.)
- The monsoon was further intensified by the high temperatures of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, which increased evaporation.
Effect of intensified Monsoon
- The devastating effects of the monsoon are different in the Himalayan states and the Great Plains of India. In the Himalayas, the monsoon not only devastates people’s lives and property but also changes the landscape forever. This changing landscape poses a new challenge of adaptation for people and governments.
- A better understanding of the regional landscape and past climate can help us cope with the threat of global warming. Mere better weather forecasts are not enough for battling a changing global climate.
Role of Regional Landscape and Geology in Disaster
- Regional geology, soils, forest cover, slope, and infrastructure all impact the intensity of a disaster. For example, Kangra, which received more rainfall than Kullu and Mandi, was less prone to disaster due to its stable landscape. Similarly, the fragile Shivalik hills of Mandi are more prone to flash floods. Active regional geological faults and thrusts are the most prone areas for massive landslides. Similarly, the Janjehli and Kullu valleys bore the worst of the rainfall. Thus, the impact of rainfall and climate change are different in different places.(see Basic Geology of Himachal Pradesh .)
- Unregulated infrastructure projects with a poor understanding of the landscape and geology disturb the region and make matters more complicated. National highways built in sensitive geological zones, often near rivers and active faults, are a recipe for disaster.
Cases Studies of Prolonged sites of Disaster
- A case in point is the two major sliding zones in Himachal: one near Chowari, Chamba, and one near Paddar, Mandi. The landslide here has been active for many years. Numerous efforts to rebuild have failed. These two massive landslide zones are the result of active fault activities inside the earth, which requires another approach to deal with.
- Similarly, this year, we also witnessed a few instances of land sinking in Sullah, Palampur, and Solan. This also requires a study of regional geology.
New Apprach to Deal with Disaster
- The present-day Himalayan landscapes are a result of past monsoons and glacial ages. At various geological intervals, the Himalayas have witnessed both intensified rainfall and ice ages. It is time to extend our approach beyond weather forecasts, and equal emphasis must be placed on the study of the evolution of the regional landscape and its impact on disasters.
