Mountainous natural hazards are a global phenomenon that poses a threat to communities, especially those with infrastructure located inside valleys. This paper examines the environmental and economic impact of cloudburst-triggered debris flows and flash floods in Uttarakhand Himalaya and suggests some mitigation measures. In the Himalayan region, cloudburst-triggered debris flows and flash floods are increasing, causing huge loss of life and property and degradation of landscape because the Himalaya favors location for its generation (Allen et al., 2013). They are very disruptive events that generally take place during the summer and monsoon seasons (Devi, 2015; Sati, 2020). The nature of lands such as precipitous slopes and fragile and undulating terrain further accentuate the severity and frequency of debris flows, flash floods, landslides, and mass movements in the Himalayas (Wang et al., 2014; Mayowa et al., 2015).
The study is based on primary data collected from four villages affected by cloudburst calamity located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Data were gathered from a household-level survey of affected villages. A total of 143 households were surveyed. First, the damage to houses, cowsheds, bridges, trees (forests and fruits) dislocation, degradation of total land along the streams, and arable land in and around the villages were measured with the help of the head of households (environmental impact) and economic valuation of all losses was noted (economic impact). This study finds out that a large area of all villages was severely affected by cloudburst-triggered debris flow and the flash flood because they are located in a highly vulnerable landscape. This study reveals that Nirakot village needs to be rehabilitated entirely and in other villages all households, which are harshly affected need to be rehabilitated as soon as possible to escape from the future cloudburst catastrophe.
Mots clés : Cloudburst|Debris flow|flash flood|Hazard|Vulnerability
A102876SK