State PCS - J & K (KAS)

• 22 Apr 2025

Extreme Weather Events in J&K

Why in News? 

The occurrence of cloudburst, flash flood, and landslide, in Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir caused deaths, damaged buildings, disrupted transport, and displaced many. This highlights the issue of increasing frequency of extreme weather events in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. 

  

Key Points 

Cloudburst 

• A cloudburst is a localised extreme rainfall event, defined as 10 cm or more rainfall within an hour over an area of approximately 10 km². 
• The phenomenon is common in hilly regions due to orographic lift—where warm air rises along mountain slopes, cools rapidly at higher altitudes, and releases accumulated moisture as sudden, intense rainfall. 
  • Cloudbursts are difficult to predict or monitor due to their localized and short-lived nature. 
• It can trigger flash floods and landslides by overwhelming natural and artificial drainage. 
• Cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh (2024) and Uttarakhand (2021) caused fatal floods, landslides, and extensive damage to infrastructure.   

 

Flash Floods 

• A flash flood occurs when sudden, intense rainfall leads to rapid runoff into rivers, streams, and drainage systems, especially in rocky terrains that have low water absorption capacity. 
• These floods are short-lived but violent, and can result in serious loss of life, unlike riverine floods that are slower but more damaging to property. 

Landslide 

• A landslide is the downward movement of soil, rocks, and debris due to gravity, often triggered by water infiltration. 
  • Excess rainfall reduces soil strength and friction, making it easier for slopes to fail. 
• Landslides in hilly areas block roads, destroy homes, and even cause secondary flooding by displacing water bodies. 
  • The 2021 Chamoli landslide, triggered by heavy rain and a glacier burst, led to widespread flooding and fatalities.  

  

Why Himalayan Regions Like Ramban Are Vulnerable? 

• The Himalayas are young fold mountains, tectonically active and prone to erosion, making the region naturally unstable. 
  • Roads, buildings, and dams are often built without adequate slope stabilization or environmental assessments, increasing the risk of disaster. 
• Loss of vegetation reduces soil cohesion, which increases the chances of landslides and slope failure. 
• The frequency of extreme weather events such as cloudbursts is rising due to changing climate patterns, leading to intense and erratic rainfall. 
  • Local populations often lack the training and resources to respond quickly and effectively during such disasters. 

Mitigation Measures 

• Enhance satellite-based monitoring and real-time forecasting tools to track localised extreme weather events. 
• Enforce eco-sensitive construction norms, especially in hilly and ecologically fragile districts like Ramban. 
• Integrate climate vulnerability assessments into district-level disaster management plans and planning processes. 
• Train local communities in evacuation protocols and first-response mechanisms to minimise casualties during extreme weather events.