SAGA OF LANDSLIDES & FLOODS

Nature attracts. It inspires and impresses. But it also has the unimaginable capacity to strike. In recent years natural calamities are on rise in our country. It is witnessing extreme weather conditions, viz in the shape of floods, cloud bursts, landslides and cyclones.Climate change globally could be also a contributing factor.

Before we proceed ahead, it would be necessary to throw some light on pattern of Monsoon 2024.Like last year, it began late but was declared officially closed only on 2nd October, that is, one week behind schedule.

8% excess rainfall took place as compared to last year.Except for East and North East(deficiency of 14%), there was no deficiency of rainfall in other parts of the country. Further, June ended with a deficiency of 10.9 %. On the contrary, July, August and September were wet with 9%,15.3% and 12.5% excess rain. Thus wide regional disparity in rains was quite obvious. In sum and substance, it appears that the LA NINA factor has proved favourable for India.

A LOOK AT LANDSLIDES

Someone has rightly said “Landslides do not occur in isolation, they are a product of the prevailing environment”.

This is true about all the three states, we aim to discuss and analyse.

KERALA

Kerala, right from the beginning has been very vulnerable to landslides. At one point of time, 50% of landslides were found occurring in this state.

In the early hours of 30th July, 2024 (between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.) a series of landslides leading to flash floods took place in four villages of Meppadi Punchayat falling in Vythiri Taluk of Waynad District. Caused by heavy rains ,hillsides collapsed and areas below suffered unimaginable devastation. As it was the deadliest, it was considered the largest landslide in the country. It was five times larger than the 1998 Malpa landslide in Uttarakhand.

CAUSES & SCALE OF TRAGEDY

It resulted in the death of over 420 persons, 397 injuries and 118 persons were reported missing.

Changing rainfall patterns, improper drainage, climate change, poor building construction and deforestation of the area were among the causes identified for the tragedy.

Further, according to a report of G.S.I., the total velocity of the flow of debris was pretty fast. After all, it flowed from an elevation of 5066 feet and got into the path of rivers, carrying tons of rocks and soil mixed with water.

In addition, as per another report of NRSC, 930,000 square feet of land had moved down the hill in Waynad.

SIKKIM & NORTH BENGAL

LANDSLIDE SCENARIO

Whole of Sikkim and the major portion of North Bengal is located in the young geological formation of Eastern Himalayas. Compared to Western Himalayas, this region is more fragile. According to ISRO, this belt comes in country’s landslide prone areas in addition to ten other states, such as, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, H.P., J&K, Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka.

SOUTH LHONAK TRAGEDY

In the recent past, say in October 2023, Sikkim faced a major crisis when South Lhonak, a glacial lake located at an altitude of 15,500 feet, burst it’s banks subsequent to heavy downpour. It led to the triggering of the worst floods in Teesta and its tributaries. In 50 years, such a catastrophe had not taken place. The impact was seen from Thangu in North Sikkim to Melli in South Sikkim. The main dam of Teesta Stage III hydel project at Chungthang in North Sikkim was damaged. 179 persons lost their lives, apart from sweeping away houses, trees, footpaths and bridges.

I may mention that while heading the State Science & Technology department, I had sounded the state Govt. about the possibility of such a flow from Lhonak lake and that pipes were airlifted to the spot to drain out extra water.My fear was reiterated on a few occasions while working as Chief Secretary of the state.

Another hydel project – Teesta Stage V ,located at Balutar in East Sikkim had to undergo sufferings when its GIS building and some residential units were damaged in the early hours of August 20,2024. A massive landslide had occured due to incessant rains. This project had suffered on earlier occasions also.

2024, AN YEAR NOT TO FORGET

From breakage of communication point of view ,2024 has been one of the worst years both for Sikkim and North Bengal. There has been hardly a respite from rainfall, which normally begins in March- April and continues upto October.According to IMD, Sikkim has received 32% more rainfall in 4 months( June to September) of 2024. Such a heavy rain has triggered multiple landslides within the state and 70 kms long approach to the state. Rocks and boulders falling over the roads and rivers are frequently witnessed. Earlier landslides used to mostly take place in the months of September and October, when sufficient percolation of water into the land mass would occur. In the current year, however, the state began facing landslides right from June onwards.

FREQUENT DISRUPTION OF LIFELINE

Closure of internal roads has become, so to say, a regular phenomenon but the blockage of National Highway to Siliguri, every now and then brings untold miseries to people of both Sikkim and North Bengal. Restoration of road link in fair weather also takes considerable time, as major portion of Highway is maintained by Govt.of West Bengal. During the period of closure of Highway severe impact is seen on supply of essential goods & commodities. Expenditure on travel too increases manifold as journey by a de tour either via Kalimpong or Darjeeling takes double of normal time.

Apart from miseries to people in general and consumers and traders in particular, Tourism industry in Sikkim and North Bengal has received successive setbacks. Very frequently, tourists get stranded and subsequent to their rescue, they generally don’t return. On the whole, the stakeholders, such as, travel agents, hoteliers guides, taxi drivers etc connected to tourism trade too get disheartened.

GUJARAT FLOOD

Once rain deficient states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, have received relatively heavy rainfall during the current calender year.

Rajasthan has witnessed 48% increase in rainfall during 2024 as compared to 2023. Further, it has been anticipated that state will receive an average rainfall of 600 mm or more this year. Areas affected by floods were Jaipur, Ajmer, Pali, Dausa and Rajsamand.

Looking at Gujarat, some areas are still reeling under fury of flood especially the districts of Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Dwarka. Even after rains had thinned out ,Vadodara city had to grapple with massive floods in its low-lying areas after the Vishwamitri river breached it’s banks and entered the residential areas.

Like the last flood in the city, people stranded in their homes were rescued by the alert and efficient teams of NDRF and SDRF. With receding flood water, cleaning equipment were deployed and spraying of disinfectants undertaken.

It may be worthwhile to indicate that with the latest spell of rainfall, Gujarat has received 105 % of it’s average annual rainfall. On the whole, of 251 Talukas of the state, 13 of them have received more than 200 mm of rainfall and another 39 over 100 mm.

According to official reports 140 reservoirs & dams and 24 rivers had crossed the danger mark. As roads and railway lines had to bear the brunt during the period of natural calamity, as many as 48 trains had to be cancelled, 14 partially cancelled and 23 were diverted to alternative routes.

FLOOD FURY IN NEPAL

It may be necessary to throw some light on flood fury in Nepal as year after year rivers originating over here have caused havoc in U.P. and Bihar. Persistent downpour has triggered floods and landslides in this landlocked country.

It has submerged towns and villages, led to closure of major roads and also disrupted air traffic. Disaster had been made worse by unplanned urban encroachment around Bagmati river. It was felt so in Kathmandu also. A natural calamity of this scale had taken place in 1970.

Normal activity came to a standstill in Kathmandu valley, home to 4 million people. Most rivers were found swollen, spilling over important roads & bridges.

Apart from normal rescue work and search of hundreds of missing persons, bulldozers were used to clear the highways.

In addition, motor boats, rafts as also helicopters were put in service.

Like India, delay in retreat of Monsoon has caused untold miseries. While 27 highways were affected, over 250 persons have lost their lives.The country also lost a substantial number of animals.

Coming to the quantum of rainfall, most of Central and Eastern Nepal received moderate to extremely heavy rainfall in the range of 50 mm to more than 200 mm.

FLOODS IN BIHAR

Fuelled by furious 60 hours of rainfall in Nepal, 13 rivers of the state began flowing above danger mark.Never before in history so much water had come down to the state.Flood due to massive discharge of Water from Nepal has become an annual feature. Floods have wreaked havoc in 43 Gram Panchayats of 16 Districts, affecting 2 million people. Release of excess water from Birpur barrage on Kosi river and Valmiki Nagar Barrage on Gandak river has further increased the fury of flood.For the first time,water level in Kosi river also rose above Birpur Barrage.

Breaches in embankments of some rivers has also added to the crisis.Not to be forgotten, water has been reported gushing into Valmiki Tiger Reserve and going right upto the famous Ashokan Pillar at Lauriya in West Champaran District.

Thus far 12 teams of NDRF and 22 of SDRF have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. As elsewhere they are being supported by District, Block and Panchayat level functionaries.

Erosion in embankments on Gandak, Bagmati and Kosi rivers in several places, is perpetuating the flood situation in four major districts. While work has begun to plug the breaches, one won’t be surprised if a similar story is repeated next year.

THREAT FROM GANGA

Worst is expected from the rise in water level of Ganga. It had already caused concern in Varanasi region. According to Water Resources Department of the State Govt., Ganga river was likely to reach above danger mark between Patna and Bhagalpur.It may accelerate flood devastation.

TO SUM UP

Two major natural calamities of landslide and flood have been analysed above, based on information available from five states of the Union and the neighbouring country of Nepal. Both the calamities are unlikely to subside unless people at the cutting edge give timely and adequate co- operation to the Government.

As compared to the situation two decades ago, timely shifting of people now is possible and highly capable NDRF and SDRF teams are proving their mettle and effectiveness with the help of modern equipments. Training in disaster management has been given right upto Panchayat level and a person in every village by the designation of FIRST RESPONDER has become a reality.

But some vested interests both in crucial departments and Blocks come in the way of permanent solutions to issues involved.Mindset will have to change. After all, in respect of storms and cyclones, our country has already excelled and that very few casualties are now being reported.

(Alok K.Shrivastava is a former Chief Secretary of Sikkim)