From floods to glacier bursts, how India suffers due to climate change
From floods to glacier bursts, how India suffers due to climate change
BusinessToday.In
- Feb 12, 2021,
- Updated Feb 12, 2021 2:14 PM IST
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The glacier burst in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, has once again highlighted that climate change is real and India is struggling to cope with it. India is now, in fact, among the top three countries in the world after the United States and China that has witnessed natural disasters.The country has been hard hit thanks to an ever-increasing population and climate change.According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, some 79,732 people have lost their lives and 108 crore people were hit in 321 incidents of natural disasters.
"Extreme climatic events or disastrous weather events have increased significantly across India during the 21st century," said minister of Health Dr Harsh Vardhan. Let us take a look at the major natural calamities that have taken place due to climate change in the recent past, in India.
Anshika Awasthi
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Uttarakhand glacier burst
February 7, 2021 A part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district which led to a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga River causing large-scale devastation. Homes along the way were swept away as the waters rushed down the mountainsides in a raging torrent. The Uttarakhand government decided to give financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. PM Modi had also approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the tragic avalanche. The central government has also announced Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. The mishap killed at least 26 people with more than 170 others listed as missing.
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Assam floods
May, 2020It was nothing short of a double whammy for Assam when over 2.4 million people were affected by monsoon flooding in Assam. The world at that time was already battling COVID19. The flooding damaged embankments, bridges, houses and roads. The flood water also caused massive upheaval in the Kaziranga National park where nearly 80 per cent of the sanctuary, world's biggest habitat of one-horned rhinos spread over 430 sq km, was inundated by flood waters. At least twenty five animals were killed due to various causes including drowning and road accidents while trying to cross roads during floods.
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Tamil Nadu floods
November 8, 2020Heavy rainfall hit the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu in August, 2020. In Nilgiris' Kudaloor, intense rain led to the inundation of a tribal area. Fire-fighters launched an operation to rescue tribals trapped in the rain to move them to a safer location. In addition, the dams in several other parts of Nilgiris and Coimbatore started to overflow following heavy rainfall. A motorcyclist died after an unused 80 feet tall mobile tower fell on him near Veerapandi in Tirupur district in heavy wind and rain.
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The 2020 Hyderabad floods
October 13-14, 2020The 2020 Hyderabad floods came with a series of floods associated with Deep Depression that caused extensive damage and loss of life as a result of flash flooding in Hyderabad, India. A total of 90 fatalities were reported in the unfortunate mishap. The heavy rains wrought havoc across Telangana leaving roads like rivers, cars submerged and carried along by powerful currents, and buildings almost entirely flooded.
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Mumbai, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
September 23, 2020The monsoon season in August 2020 left many regions in India struggling to cope. With Mumbai waterlogged severely, heavy rains also disrupted life in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Uttarakhand. The heavy showers in Mumbai and neighbouring areas crippled normal life and disrupted rail and road traffic. The essential services workers like nurses and other medical staff treating Covid-19 patients also faced difficulties reaching hospitals.
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Cyclone Amphan
May 16 - May 21, 2020Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan caused widespread damage in Eastern India, specifically West Bengal, Odisha and in Bangladesh in May 2020.It was the fourth super cyclone that hit West Bengal since 1582, after 1737, 1833 and 1942 and being one of the strongest storms to hit the area. It is also the costliest cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean with damage of some $13 billion. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a fund of Rs 6,250 crore to assist the affected people to build houses, help farmers, and provide assistance for betel leaf plantations as well as construction and repair of tube wells. A total number of 118 fatalities were recorded in the incident.
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Heat waves
Meteorologists declare a heatwave event when the maximum (day) temperature for a location in the plains crosses 40 degrees Celsius. When the day temperature jumps by 4 to 5 degrees above the normal maximum temperature of a location, it will be known as a heatwave. States like Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra experience severe to very severe heatwave conditions in India and each year its getting worse