STUDY OF FLOOD VULNERABILITY IN HIMALAYAN REGION: A CASE OF UTTRAKHAND
Authors:   Student of Master of urban and regional planning, faculty of architecture and planning, Lucknow, Gupta Ar. Malishka 
Published: May 2024

India's Himalayan area is well known for its magnificent scenery and abundant wildlife. However, because of its complicated geology, delicate ecosystems, and unpredictable climate, it is also extremely vulnerable to catastrophic calamities. The causes, effects, and mitigation techniques of the common natural catastrophes that affect India's Himalayan region—such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)—are briefly summarised in this summary. Because of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, earthquakes are one of the most dangerous natural disasters in the Himalayan region. Major seismic events, like the one that struck Nepal in 2015, demonstrate how vulnerable the region's heavily inhabited areas are to devastating destruction and high fatality rates. Effective disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure are crucial for minimizing casualties and damage. Another common risk in the Himalayan region is landslides, which can be brought on by unstable slopes, strong rains, and seismic activity. The region's susceptibility is exacerbated by these occurrences, which represent a major threat to natural ecosystems, transportation networks, and towns, particularly during the monsoon season. In the Himalayan region, floods are a common occurrence that are exacerbated by glacial melt, heavy rainfall, and glacier lake outbursts. Flash floods, like the ones that occurred in Uttarakhand in 2013, highlight the terrible effects on infrastructure, communities, and the environment. Reducing flood risks and increasing resilience requires community-based adaptation strategies, early warning systems, and sustainable land use planning. A unique hazard in the Himalayan region, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are caused by the rapid melting of glaciers and the creation of unstable glacial lakes. The communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems downstream are seriously threatened by these catastrophes, which calls for careful observation and risk assessment techniques. One of the worst natural catastrophes to have hit the state in recent memory is the flash floods in Uttarakhand. Because to the state's distinctive geography, which is made up of small valleys and steep hills, heavy rainfall events have a greater effect, especially during the monsoon season. 2013's devastating flash floods, brought on by abnormally high rainfall, caused extensive environmental damage, infrastructure ruin, and a great deal of fatalities. The abrupt influx of water, rubble, and silt caused great destruction to isolated communities, tourist attractions, and places of worship, underscoring the precariousness of human habitation in the foothills of the Himalayas. The incident also brought attention to the relationship between unplanned development, environmental deterioration, and the likelihood of disasters, spurring calls for more land use planning, early warning systems, and sustainable development techniques future flash floods in Uttarakhand. In conclusion, the broad range of natural hazards that the Himalayan area of India faces calls for multifaceted methods to disaster risk reduction and management. In this dynamic and vulnerable setting, scientific research, community participation, and sustainable development practices are critical components of effective resilience-building efforts. Keywords: Hilly areas natural disaster, flash flood, Glacial lake outburst, flash flood in Uttarakhand