Dharamshala: The Himalayan region, the youngest mountain range in the world, is facing an alarming rise in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters in recent decades. Experts point out that the fragile ecology, combined with unscientific human interventions and the impacts of climate change, has made the region increasingly vulnerable.
Rajan Kumar Sharma, an expert in disaster management, told UNI that the Himalayas fall in seismic Zone-IV and V, making them prone to major earthquakes and the rising average temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, while abnormal rainfall patterns, cloudbursts, and prolonged heavy downpours are triggering frequent landslides.
He said the natural instability of mountain slopes adds to the challenge.
Sharma claimed that the uncontrolled road and tunnel construction without adequate geological surveys, proliferation of hydropower projects, deforestation, and rapid land use changes have further destabilised river banks and slopes. Encroachment due to tourism and urbanisation has aggravated the risk of flash floods, landslides, and habitat destruction, he added.
Rajan said that landslides affect hundreds of locations every year during the monsoon, cutting off villages and highways. Flash floods, often caused by cloudbursts, have left behind a trail of destruction, such as the 2010 Ladakh disaster and the 2021 Uttarakhand tragedy.
Historic earthquakes like the 1905 Kangra quake and the 2015 Nepal earthquake have claimed thousands of lives. Avalanches continue to affect soldiers and local residents, while glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), such as those in Kedarnath (2013) and Rishiganga (2021), remain a recurring threat.
Every year, thousands of lives are lost in the Himalayas due to disasters. Economic losses mount with damage to roads, bridges, hydropower projects and agriculture. Tourism, including the Chardham Yatra, Himachal and Kashmir circuits, faces disruption. Villages are displaced, rivers change course, and biodiversity is under severe stress.
Experts stress the need for sustainable development planning based on geological and environmental studies. Strengthening disaster early warning systems, involving local communities through training and awareness, conserving forests and restricting unscientific construction are key priorities.
Technical measures such as satellite and radar-based weather forecasting, sensor-based alarms in landslide prone areas, glacier monitoring, and resilient construction techniques like bio-engineering and slope-retaining walls are recommended.
At the community level, mock drills, disaster education, traditional architecture and water management techniques, along with livelihood options such as eco-tourism and organic farming, can help reduce ecological pressure.
Policy measures like stricter building codes, catchment area treatment, reforestation, renewable energy promotion and climate adaptation strategies including rainwater harvesting and minor irrigation systems are considered crucial.
Analysts underline that disasters in the Himalayas are not solely due to natural fragility but also the outcome of human interference and climate change. While disasters cannot be fully prevented in this geologically sensitive zone, their intensity and impact can be reduced through scientific planning, ecological conservation and community participation.
