(Feature Image: Primary School Building in Kuklah, Mandi buried under ‘cloudburst’ induced flashflood debris. Source: ETV Bharat)
In South West Monsoon season 2023, the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed several ‘cloudburst’ incidents adding to the death tolls and infrastructural destruction on account of excessive rains, landslides and flash floods. SANDRP has compiled a detailed report on the subject here and this account highlights the summary of the report. Our previous analysis on ‘cloudburst’ incident in Himachal Pradesh state can be seen here 2022 (39 incidents); 2021(30 incidents); 2020 (3 incidents); 2019 (16 incidents); 2018 (21 incidents).
Based on media reports that we could track and compile, there have been at least 65 ‘cloudburst’ incidents in Himachal Pradesh in SW Monsoon 2023. The maximum 31 of these incidents have taken place in July month followed by 24 in August. There were 9 such incidents in June and 1 incident in pre-monsoon month of May 2023.
District wise the maximum 24 ‘cloudburst’ incidents have taken place in Mandi district followed by 19 incidents in Kullu district. The remaining 22 incidents have taken place in the districts of Shimla (7), Chamba (4), Solan (3), 2 each in Kangra & Sirmaur and 1 each in Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur district.
In terms of impacts, at least 43 people have lost their lives in ‘cloudbursts’ related flashflood, landslides incidents in the state in addition to the deaths of about 182 cattle. Over 300 human structures including homes, schools, government buildings, water mills and 50 cowsheds either have faced complete or partial damages or got flooded by muck and sludge. Apart from this, the ‘cloudburst’ deluge has left about a dozen foot and motor bridges and over 150 vehicles damaged.
Similarly, at least 4 hydro power projects including 66 Mw Dhaulasidh HEP in Hamirpur; 14 Mw GreenKo HEP in Shimla (in June 2023, for details see SANDRP blog here); 240 Mw Kuther HEP in Chamba (July 2023); and 16 Mw Patikari HEP in Mandi (August 2023, for details see SANDRP blog here) have faced significant damages and caused destruction in downstream areas on account of ‘cloudbursts’ induced flashflood events.
Additionally, while the project area of 5 Mw Brahmaganga HEP in Kullu faced flashflood threats on July 25, 2023; the complex of 110 Mw Shanan HEP in Mandi district was flooded with muck due to a ‘cloudburst’ incident on July 20, 2023. The faulty operations of 520 Mw Parbati III, 100 Mw Sainj HEP in Kullu, 126 Mw Larji HEP and 990 Mw Pandoh dam in Mandi and also Bhakra and Pong dams aggravated flood destruction in downstream areas. The floods have also caused significant damages to Larji HEP and 100 Mw Malana II dam projects. As per the Punjab Kesari report the Malana II hydro project dam in Kullu district was filled with debris and silts causing its overspill, chocking of gates and breach in the structure following a ‘cloud burst’ incident on July, 24, 2023.
High Rainfall days in Himachal Districts in SW Monsoon 2023
| Districts | June | July | Aug | Sept | Total |
| Bilaspur | – | (0) 100-150: 10 (1) 150-200: 9 (1) | 7, 11, 13, 14 (4) 150-200: 23 (1) | 18 (1) | 8 |
| Chamba | – | (0) 100-150: 9, 10 (2) | – | – | 2 |
| Hamirpur | 23 (1) | 10 (1) 100-150: 9 (1) | 11, 15, 23 (3) 100-150: 13, 14 (2) | – | 8 |
| Kangra | – | 10 (1) 100-150: 9 (1) | 12, 15, 23 (3) 150-200: 14 (1) | 19 (1) | 7 |
| Kinnaur | – | – | – | – | – |
| Kullu | – | 9, 10 (2) | – | – | 2 |
| Lahaul Spiti | – | 10 (1); 100-150: 9 (1) | – | – | 2 |
| Mandi | 24 (1) | 9, 10, 11 (3) | 11, 12, 13, 15, 23 (5) 100-150: 14, 23 (2) | – | 11 |
| Shimla | – | 9, 10, 11 (3) | 14 (1) | – | 4 |
| Sirmaur | – | 8, 13, 18, 26 (4) 100-150: 9, 22 (2) 150-200: 10, 11 (2) | 24 (1) | – | 9 |
| Solan | 1, 24 (2) | 22 (1) 100-150: 9, 10, 11 (3) | 14 (1) 100-150: 23 (1) | – | 8 |
| Una | – | (0) 100-150: 10 (1) 150-200: 9 (1) | 11, 23 (2) | – | 4 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 4 | 16 + 12 + 4 = 32 | 20 + 5 + 2 = 27 | 2 | 42 + 17 + 6 = 65 |
Note: In each month, each district, the dates when rainfall is 50-100 mm are given. The figure in the bracket gives total number of such dates in a given month in a given district. Where rainfall is 100-150 mm (total 17 such dates in SW monsoon 2023) or 150-200 mm (6 such dates), such dates are mentioned along with the rainfall range, after the dates for 50-100 mm.
Monitoring, Documentation Missing
While the state has seen so many reported incidents of ‘cloudbursts’, the Met Center, Shimla has no record or data on these incidents. “We don’t deny that ‘cloudbursts’ are not happening in the state. There could be several of such incidents this monsoon season. But, we don’t have any number and can’t determine ‘cloudburst’ without rainfall data and such incidents are taking place outside existing rainfall measuring instruments”, says Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Scientist ‘C’, Met Centre (MC), Shimla.
He agreed that there is a need to increase the rainfall monitoring network. “These are localized events and require continuous monitoring. We lack resources but are taking steps in this direction”, said Sharma adding that state govt should also install rainfall monitoring equipments.
Presently, there are about 163 rainfall monitoring instruments comprising 26 AWS, 65 ARG, 72 manual gauges covering 55,673 sqkm geographical area of Himachal Pradesh state. Additionally, there are 6 manual observatory and a pilot balloon system.
As per a Met Official about 20 satellite based ARG in the state have been defunct since last year and they are being replaced with GPRS technology. “There are many issues with satellite-based ARG. Extreme weather events affect their performance. They require constant high voltage power supply and the battery back up is poor. So, these are being replaced with GPRS system”, said Harminder Dutta, Meteorologist ‘B’, MC, Shimla.
Inadequate Observation
Presently, both the MC, Shimla and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) rely on administrative officials for ‘cloudburst’ related incidents. In fact, the preliminary report on rain related disasters including landslides, flashfloods and ‘cloudbursts’ prepared by SDMA is mainly based on observations made by SDM or other administrative officials’ during ground visits.
As per SDMA report there have been 169 landslide incidents killing 144 humans besides 05 missing; 53 flashflood incidents killing 19 humans apart from 20 missing persons and 19 ‘cloudburst’ incidents killing 14 people in the state between June 24 and August 24, 2023.
The SDMA report seems very general in nature and has just covered a third of the ‘cloudburst’ incidents that too lack adequate details. The methodology is also doubtful as the ‘cloudburst’ incidents are turning into cascading disasters triggering flashfloods, landslides and riverbank erosion. SDMA report seemingly have not taken these factors into account.
Nevertheless, this is the only official report documenting the ‘cloudburst’ incidents in the state. SDMA can improve the profiling by including geo-coordinates of affected locations apart from including details of drainage channels and valleys.
“SDMA can’t declare whether it’s ‘cloudburst’ or not. MC, Shimla is mandated to do this. But they have over 80 defunct rain gauges and are not strengthening their rainfall monitoring network”, responded Parveen Bhardwaj, Disaster Management Specialist, SDMA adding that SDMA even offered them financial support for this but they refused to take it.
‘Muck’ Stops at IMD, Delhi
Be it Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh, while the intensity and frequency of ‘cloudburst’ disaster seems on the rise taking away precious human lives and causing significant destruction to public and private properties, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi appears non-serious when it comes to forecasting, monitoring, documentation and study the ‘cloudburst’ phenomena. The negligence in maintaining the rainfall measuring equipment and lethargy in expanding the monitoring system testify the approach.
“We are increasing the observatories and radar network. There are already ‘ten’ doppler radars in the north Himalayan region which issue forecasts after every 10 minutes”, said Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD.
He further stated the ‘cloudburst’ is very complex event happening at local levels. “Even less than 10cm rainfall per hour in the hills can result in landslides and flashfloods. The soil type, slope structure, geophysical conditions determine the damage factor”, says Dr. Mohapatra.
On the question of inadequacy in rainfall monitoring network, the DG stated that to track the ‘cloudburst’ events rainfall gauges at village level are required and the IMD lacks resources to go upto village level. IMD can provide technical support to state governments to take innovative steps and fill in the gap.
“There is no documentation of ‘cloudburst’ events happening even at international level and there is no globally accepted definition of mini ‘cloudburst’”, responded the DG on the questions of ‘cloudburst’ documentation and his views on mini ‘cloudburst’. It seems the regional met centers and state governments largely depend on IMD for ‘cloudburst’ monitoring and documentation.
Not ‘Divine’ Disaster’, Destruction Mostly Avoidable
Local politicians and even state governments have been loosely terming ‘cloudburst’ and other calamities as ‘divine’ or natural disaster despite omnipresent human footprints proving as key factors behind the avoidable destruction. While most of the reported ‘cloudburst’ incidents could be meteorologically incorrect (mainly due to lack of monitoring), the ensuing damages are significant and avoidable.
In Himachal Pradesh case also the abuse and encroachment of drainage system and hill areas in the name of development are proving the main reason behind death toll and infrastructural damages. The few incidents of this monsoon season from HP are worth mentioning here.
Mandi, July 9: The first case is of Thunag market of Saraj area in Mandi which was flooded with hundreds of wood logs and mudslide on July 09, 2023. Initially, the destruction was attributed to ‘cloudburst’ but later it was found that local streams which flooded the Thunag market were choked with illegally chopped wood logs in large number and debris from a local road construction during former chief minister Jairam Thakur (2017-2022) tenure. Days after the incident, a former minister had demanded a CBI probe into the incident. The market had also faced a similar devastating flashflood on August 19, 2022.
Shimla, Aug 14 & 23: Similarly, Summer Hills incident and Navbahar incident both in Shimla which were initially attributed to ‘cloudburst’ induced landslides have later turned out to be cases of mismanagement and neglect of drainage system.
About 20 people were killed in a temple collapse incident in Summer Hill on August 14, 2023 following a landslide starting from the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) complex uphill amid heavy rainfall. Demanding an inquiry into the incident; affected locals have attributed neglect of the drainage system and past landslide incidents leading to the disaster. Some people have also blamed seepage from the IIAS water tank, caving in a part of land at IIAS, over construction on hill top and construction of the buried temple structure close to drainage channel as reasons behind the disaster.
In the Navbahar case, rain runoff from a large tract of roads got channelized and gushed down the hill towards Shanan, in the process causing a huge landslide which uprooted over 250 trees creating the impression of a ‘cloudburst’ incident.
Likewise, the flooding in Rewalsar, Jogindar Nagar, Balh, Sarkaghat, Parvanu and in other urban areas have primarily been due to abuse and encroachment of drainage system. Similarly, irrigation, drinking water schemes, bridges and homes constructed close to the watercourses are inviting and aggravating the flashflood threats.
There have been half a dozen incidents of flashflood damaging the school buildings built in flood zones of respective streams. Fortunately, the incidents have taken place during off school hours otherwise many innocent students could have lost their lives. The destruction of two school buildings in Kuklah, Mandi is one such example.
Some locations in the state have been repeatedly facing ‘cloudburst’ induced flashflood damages and require long term safety measures. The Baagi nullah in Parashar, Mandi is one such location where at least four devastating flashflood incidents have occurred in this monsoon season.
Dumping of road construction, widening and hydropower project tunnel debris into rivers and water channels are intensifying the ‘cloudburst’ induced deluge & destruction. The mining and deforestation in the hills are increasing disaster vulnerabilities.
Finally, in face of changing climate and rainfall patterns, the hill states are bound to witness more ‘cloudbursts’ incidents. Instead of labeling them as ‘divine’ or natural disasters; taking monitoring, precautionary and mitigatory steps urgently can help prevent the destruction to a large extent.
Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
Post Script: This Punjab Kesari report mentions that the Malana II hydro project dam in Kullu district was filled with debris and silts causing its overspill, chocking of gates and breach in the structure following a ‘cloud burst’ incident on July, 24, 2023.
SANDRP 