Cloudbursts in the Himalayan states are becoming more frequent and more destructive in a warming climate. Examine their causes, recent occurrences and the gaps in India’s early-warning framework.
Subtopic: Geography · Physical — Hydro-Meteorological Hazards
How to structure your answer
Introduction: A cloudburst is defined by IMD as rainfall above 100 mm in an hour over a small area (10 sq km). Himalayan cloudbursts are concentrated in July–September.
Body — three dimensions: (1) Physical causation: orographic lifting along Lesser and Greater Himalaya, moisture supply from south-west monsoon and western disturbances, urbanisation of hill slopes; rising upper-tropospheric temperature with climate change increases moisture-holding capacity (about 7% per °C, Clausius-Clapeyron). (2) Recent events: Kedarnath 16–17 June 2013 (over 5,000 deaths); Leh 5 August 2010; Chamoli 7 February 2021 (combined glacial-cloudburst event); Wayanad landslide 30 July 2024 in Western Ghats; Sikkim glacial lake outburst flood October 2023. (3) Policy framework: C-FLOOD model (CWC); NDMA Cloudburst Guidelines 2020; INSAT-3DS imagery; National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (one of eight NAPCC missions); Doppler radars deployed in Mukteshwar, Kufri, Joshimath; but sub-district resolution forecasts still patchy.
Conclusion: The Disaster Management Amendment Act 2024 mandates State Disaster Mitigation Funds — implementation will determine whether Himalayan communities live with these events or face them blind.
Written within the word limit
133 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as rainfall exceeding 100 mm in one hour over an area under 10 sq km, concentrated in July–September across the Himalaya.
Body: Orographic lifting along the Lesser and Greater Himalaya combines with south-west monsoon and western-disturbance moisture; Clausius-Clapeyron physics adds about 7% atmospheric moisture per degree of warming, raising frequency and intensity. Kedarnath (16–17 June 2013, over 5,000 deaths), Leh (5 August 2010), Chamoli (7 February 2021), the Wayanad landslide (30 July 2024) and the South Lhonak GLOF that destroyed Teesta-III (October 2023) confirm the trend. The C-FLOOD model (CWC), NDMA Cloudburst Guidelines 2020, Doppler radars at Mukteshwar and Kufri and INSAT-3DS provide a base, but sub-district nowcasting is patchy.
Conclusion: Implementing the State Disaster Mitigation Funds mandated by the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2024 is the test of whether Himalayan towns can move from response to anticipation.
What an examiner expects to see
- IMD definition — >100 mm/hour over <10 sq km
- Concentration in July–September monsoon
- Clausius-Clapeyron — 7% more moisture per °C warming
- Kedarnath 16–17 June 2013, >5,000 deaths
- Leh cloudburst 5 August 2010
- Chamoli combined hazard 7 February 2021
- Wayanad landslide 30 July 2024
- Sikkim GLOF October 2023, South Lhonak Lake
- C-FLOOD model (CWC), INSAT-3DS
- Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2024
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Kedarnath flood — Char Dham circuit
- Leh 2010 — Indus valley flash flood
- South Lhonak GLOF — Teesta-III dam destroyed
- Doppler radar at Mukteshwar (UK)
- National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)