Cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh

Two recent cloudbursts incidents in Himachal Pradesh have put the state into a disastrous stage where over two dozens of humans are still missing. These are several villages and towns which are located in the state but away from the busy city centers. These are enhanced hundredfold as the three primary areas affected are Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla, which are home to district administrations and rescue teams.

A cloudburst is a extreme local storm, which brings very heavy and localized storm which is in the form of rainfall and leads to flash floods. As highlighted in Himachal Pradesh, these cloudbursts give rise to flooding, landslides, and structural collapse. These have arisen due to weather anomalies which have inflicted havoc on local capacity and endeavours. Houses floods, roads are washed out and bridges have been damaged, adding to the challenges faced by search and rescue missions.
The cloudbursts have been reported in the past one week and the major cloudburst incidents were reported on July 28 and lasted till August 1st, 2024. This has been following one or the other weathers disturbances resulting into a build up of rainfall that has rather intensified the cumulative effect or multiplier effect of each subsequent cloud burst.
Among these places, the main areas affected by the cloudbursts are Kullu Valley, Mandi District and Shimla District. A review of these regions shows that they include areas that are characterised by complicated topography or steep slopes and are therefore very sensitive to such adverse conditions. They include the floods that occur as flash floods, which have impacted people living in villages that are either rural or semi-urban and destroying key infrastructures.
The recent floods in Himachal Pradesh are believed to be due to the magnitude of the monsoon and terrain conditions in the region. The area stated in Himalayan foothills witness heavy down pourings at times sudden and very severe because of altitude and climatic conditions. The monsoon is still ongoing and this has seemed to increase the number of occurrences and intensity of cloudbursts due to the weather conditions.
The cloudbursts have witnessed intense, heavy and concentrated forms of precipitation that occurs within a very short span of time, thereby flooding natural drainage areas within brief periods and leading to severe flood situations. This has led to cases of landslides that cause barriers that include closure of roads and access to the affected areas. The rescue operations are being affected by the undermined infrastructure and geography of the locations. Rescue operations are underway with the local administration, the Indian Army, and the NDRF assisting in identifying the stranded. The helicopters and ground crews are mobilized to search for the lost individuals, help them and transport those who are in a worse state. The situation remains critical, with continued efforts to address the impacts of cloudbursts as well. The state government has also identified modalities of relief, including funds for families that have lost their properties and assistance towards reconstruction. While the rescue process is ongoing, there is special concern with a quick supply of necessities to the homeless and with rebuilding what has been destroyed not to cause additional issues.