Source: The post India must strengthen GIFT City to attract global capital has been created, based on the article “Securing valleys and slopes” published in “ Indian express” on 18 September 2025. Monsoon floods test resilience of Himalayan states.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 -Environment
Context: Monsoon 2025 exposed the vulnerability of Himalayan states. Severe rains, cloudbursts, landslides, and floods hit J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, disrupting pilgrimages and crops. The crisis revived debate on technology, preparedness, and citizen roles in disaster management.
For detailed information on Rising flash flood risks threaten fragile Himalayan regions read this article here
How agencies acted on the ground?
- Jammu & Kashmir: The Army laid Bailey bridges within hours, the Air Force launched helicopter sorties from Jammu, and NDRF specialist teams surged in. Pilgrims at Machail and Vaishno Devi were evacuated through joint action with police, CPF, and SDRF.
- Punjab: NDMA coordinated with CWC, IMD (India Meteorological Department), and BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) to regulate releases and avert breaches. A dramatic Army Aviation airlift saved CRPF personnel near Madhopur Headworks minutes before a building collapsed.
- Himachal Pradesh: Torrential rains triggered slope failures and flash floods across Chamba, Kullu, and Lahaul-Spiti. Despite casualties, over 10,000 Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims were evacuated. Army, IAF, ITBP, and SDRF mounted difficult operations, while BRO restored roads and bridges using drone imagery for assessments.
- Uttarakhand: The Army built a 400-foot aerial cableway, restored bridges, and deployed engineers and SAR dogs. IAF Chinooks lifted heavy equipment, with UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) adding civil helicopters. SDRF and ITBP used drones and satcom links for swift evacuations, supported by temporary Incident Command Posts.
What enabled speed and coordination?
- Unified action: Soldiers, airmen, engineers, paramilitary forces, disaster professionals, officials, and volunteers worked in concert. A deputy commissioner’s 36-hour trek to Dharali reflected the determination to reach isolated communities quickly.
- Tech backbone: Drones, satellite communication, OneWeb links, Doppler radars, and IMD nowcasting supported planning and execution. Joint work by Army communicators and service providers revived networks and stabilised information flows.
- Command posts: Temporary command posts enabled real-time tasking across agencies. Speed, coordination, and innovation characterised the operational posture.
What must improve before the next monsoon?
- Mapping and monitoring: GSI should expand landslide mapping using soil soaking and slope gradients. NRSC (National Remote Sensing Centre) must monitor glacial lakes and debris flows round the clock, and AI using local hydro-met data can sharpen flash-flood and cloudburst forecasts.
- Predictive surveillance: Drones should shift to predictive surveillance of slopes, rivers, and glaciers. GIS-based risk mapping is essential, with a denser Doppler radar network and more localised early-warning systems.
Where community and governance fall short?
- Alerts to action: Despite lakhs of warnings issued through SMS and the Sachet app, too many citizens remain unaware of what to do when alerts arrive. Pilgrimage corridors like Machail and Gangotri see footfall even during red alerts.
- Risky practices: Construction in riverbeds, slope destabilisation from unchecked development, and disregard of building norms magnify hazards. Communities need clarity on evacuation routes, shelters, and steps upon receiving alerts.
- Training reach: The NDMA’s Aapda Mitra (Friends in Disaster) programme is a good start, but it needs deeper penetration into schools, panchayats and resident welfare associations. Mock drills should become regular, meaningful community training.
How recovery should build resilience?
- Safer infrastructure: Reconstruction must stabilise slopes, reinforce embankments, and curb illegal mining. Seismic codes and riverbank “no-build zones” require strict enforcement.
- Institutions & civil society: A technically oriented disaster-management community is needed. Civil society’s local knowledge should be integrated into district authorities to anchor resilient development.
- Shared responsibility: Responders showed courage and skill, but government action alone is not enough. Preparedness must be treated with the seriousness of civic duties to achieve lasting resilience.
Question for practice
Examine how the Monsoon 2025 floods affected Himalayan states and assess the response, technology use, and community preparedness
