CAUSES, IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES FOR FLASH FLOODS IN INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION

Abstract

The Himalayas is the crown of India but Because of its inherent characteristics and climatic conditions, the young Indian Himalayan region is vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters. Risks include varying degrees of earthquake severity, floods or flash floods, and glacial lake eruptions. The Uttarakhand flash flood of 2013 caused by a glacial lake outburst is considered the worst disaster of the decade. Flash flood 2021 Chamoli (Uttarakhand) caused by an avalanche, Amarnath flash flood July 2022 caused by a cloud burst, Leh flash flood 2010 caused by a cloud burst are some recent examples of flash floods in the Indian Himalayan region which shows that flash floods are getting frequent in hilly regions. The best use and exploitation of land and water resources are provided through flood risk management, which is essential for a nation's economy and sustainable development. In India, measures have been developed to lessen the negative consequences of flooding in plains by emphasizing flood risk management. However, due to the difficult terrain, restricted accessibility, and low degree of monitoring, flood risk management in hilly areas is still in its early stages. The last several decadal floods have demonstrated that only building safeguards alone could not provide sufficient safety from such catastrophes. There is a need for a such framework that can efficiently manage these calamities. The research aims to analyze the various causes that trigger flash floods in hilly regions, the consequences of such events, and their level of impact. The study discusses various guidelines, policies, and strategies for risk reduction to analyze the gap & challenges that are crucial in effective flood management. Keywords: GLOF, Flash Floods, mitigation measures, Himalayan Regions, IHR, Risk Reduction, Uttarakhand, Kedarnath,