Understanding Risk from Floods and Lindslides in the Himalayan Region: A Discussion to Enhance Resilience

In June 2013, a cloud burst event dumped higher than normal torrential rains over Uttarakhand, a popular but sensitive Himalayan region in India. The rivers in the region overflowed to unprecedented levels causing severe landslides. The combined effects of these three hazards were extremely damaging. Nearly six thousand people perished in the disaster and many more got injured and went missing. Damage surpassed US$500 million. A discussion around making communities has been triggered by the event in the region that is considered a sacred destination for Hindu pilgrims. It is people’s belief that they should visit the four ancient temples in the region once in their lifetime. The challenge posed to the authorities is to find an approach that would allow them to address all aspects of similar event, including meteorological, hydrological, and geological. Currently, these different areas fall under different administrations. Â