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The cloudburst in Uttarkashi triggered flash floods and landslides, but experts believe a glacial lake outburst might be the real cause, as rainfall levels were too low for a typical cloudburst.
Why do cloudbursts often occur in the Himalayas?
Cloudbursts are common in the Himalayas due to steep slopes, heavy monsoon rains, and thick storm clouds that release intense rainfall in a short time.
What makes cloudbursts so dangerous?
They cause sudden floods, often within an hour, leaving little time for evacuation or warnings, especially in remote and hilly areas.
Why is it hard to predict a cloudburst?
Cloudbursts happen in small areas, don’t last long, and occur in places with poor weather tracking systems, making early warning difficult.
Cloudburst in Uttarkashi
Cloudburst in Uttarkashi recently triggered flash floods and landslides in the Dharali region. It had swept away a lot of homes, killing at least 4 people. Check here to know more about Cloudbursts.
Subham Sahoo11 Aug, 2025
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Cloudburst in Uttarkashi: Recently, flash floods due to heavy rainfall have caused widespread devastation and damage along the Kheer Ganga river in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The cloudburst hit the town of Dharali. It is a popular tourist attraction situated 8600 feet above sea level. The resulting floods took away significant lives, and lot more are feared missing.
Cloudburst has become a common phenomenon in the Himalayan region, especially in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It is a natural disaster and thus becomes an important topic for the UPSC GS Paper 3.
What is a Cloudburst?
A cloudburst refers to a localised heavy rainfall that causes widespread damage to life and property through short spells of intense rainfall over a small geographical region. It is defined by IMD as rainfall exceeding 100 mm/hour over a small area, typically 20-30 sq. km. However, experts are suggesting that a glacial lake outburst (GLOF), rather than a cloudburst, is the reason behind flash floods in Dharali.
Such a suggestion was provided by experts because the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded minimal rainfall during the disaster, which is well below the levels that cause cloudburst-induced flooding.
GLOF is a type of flooding that occurs when a dam containing a glacial lake fails and releases a large volume of water. It is caused by the rapid melting of glaciers or water buildup in the lake due to heavy precipitation.
History of Cloudburst Disasters in India
Cloudbursts are often associated with cumulonimbus clouds in the mountainous regions caused due to orographic lift and convection currents that quickly accumulate moisture before collapsing violently. Several cloudburst disasters have occurred in India over the years:
History of Cloudburst Disasters in India
Location
Year
Damages
Musi River, Hyderabad
1908
15,000 deaths, 80,000 homes destroyed
Alaknanda River, Uttarakhand
1970
Massive floods in pilgrimage towns
Leh, Ladakh
2010
179 dead, 400 injured
Multiple incidents in Uttarakhand & Himachal
2023-25
Loss of life, flash floods, infrastructure collapse
Causes and Mechanisms of Cloudbursts
Cloudbursts are sudden, intense rainfalls that can cause serious damage in a short amount of time. They often happen in mountainous regions and during the monsoon season. Several natural and human-influenced factors work together to trigger these events. Here's a breakdown of how they occur:
Sudden Drop in Upward Air Movement: In stormy weather, strong upward winds push moist air high into the sky. When these winds suddenly lose strength, all that moisture quickly turns into heavy rain. It then falls rapidly over a small area, causing flash floods.
Impact of Rising Temperatures: As the planet warms, the air holds more moisture. For every 1°C increase in temperature, the air can carry around 7% more water. This added moisture increases the chances of extreme rainfall, especially during monsoon months.
Lightning Delays the Rain: Large storm clouds, like cumulonimbus clouds, often produce lightning. These electrical charges interfere with the process of raindrop formation. As a result, the cloud stores more water before it finally releases it all at once.
Pollution in the Himalayas: Smoke and tiny particles from vehicles, fires, and crop burning rise into the air. These particles make clouds thicker by helping moisture stick to them. In the Himalayan region, this process, combined with mountain pressure, makes cloudbursts more likely.
Why Prediction of Cloudbursts is Difficult
Cloudbursts are tough to predict and prepare for. They happen suddenly, without much warning, and mostly in remote or hilly regions. There are a few main reasons why forecasting them is so difficult:
Happen in Small Areas: Cloudbursts usually affect a very small region, sometimes just 10 to 30 square kilometers. Because of this, they often go unnoticed by regular weather radars.
Short Duration: These events are quick, often over in less than an hour. That leaves very little time to give warnings or prepare for the damage.
Lack of Proper Infrastructure: Mountain regions don’t have enough weather stations or advanced radars. This makes it hard to track what’s happening in real time.
High Cost of Technology: Setting up high-tech tools like Doppler radars or AI-based systems in remote places costs a lot. Many of these areas don’t get enough funding for such upgrades.
Measures to Mitigate Cloudbursts
To deal with cloudbursts and reduce their impact, a mix of better planning, early warnings, and stronger community support is needed. These steps can help save lives and reduce damage, especially in the hilly Himalayan regions. Certain measures can be adopted to mitigate the damage caused by a Cloudburst. They are as follows:
Expand Doppler radars and weather stations in Himalayan states and use AI tools to improve short-term rainfall prediction.
Setting up a National Cloudburst Monitoring Programme under NDMA and ISRO, and carrying out village-level risk assessments using satellite and map data.
Ban on construction in high-risk zones and update rainfall maps for all Himalayan towns to guide safer development.
Create disaster plans for villages in local languages and involve Panchayats and self-help groups in evacuation and training drills.
Use eco-friendly methods to stabilize slopes and encourage flood-proof homes, with green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems.
