Paper: GS-III, Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Disaster, Issue: Disaster proofing valleys and slopes.
Context:
Recent devastating floods in Dehradun, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand highlight the fragility of mountain ecosystems. It raises urgent need for future-ready disaster management with technology integration.
Recent Disaster Events in Himalayas
Challenges
- Rugged Terrain & Climate Change: Intensifies rainfall, landslides, and glacial melt.
- Fragile Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, and habitations highly vulnerable.
- Coordination Gaps: Multi-agency responses often lack seamless integration.
- Limited Technology Penetration: Disaster alerts often fail to reach vulnerable populations, especially in remote areas.
Current Response Mechanisms
- Agile Deployment: Army, Air Force, paramilitary, NDRF, SDRF, and local volunteers played critical roles.
- Technology Use:
- Drones for damage assessment.
- OneWeb satellite internet for communication.
- Doppler radars for weather monitoring.
- NDMA’s Aapda Mitra programme – local volunteer training for disaster resilience.
Need for Technology Scale-Up
- Geological Survey of India (GSI): Must expand landslide mapping by integrating soil soaking, slope gradient.
- National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC): Needs continuous satellite monitoring of glacial lakes, slope instability, and debris flows.
- GIS-Based Decision Support: Integrating weather, hydrology, slope, and soil data into actionable maps for state/district authorities.
- Real-Time Communication Systems: 24×7 coordination between NDMA, armed forces, state disaster agencies.
Future-Ready Strategy
Conclusion:
Strengthening Himalayan disaster management ensures protection of lives & livelihoods, safeguarding of critical infrastructure (dams, roads, tourism hubs) and enhances climate adaptation and resilience. It aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) and SDG-13.
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