Why in the news
Scientists called for a dependable Early Warning System (EWS) in the Himalayas as climate-driven floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and avalanches become more frequent.
Key facts
- NASA data for 2007-2017 logged 1,121 landslide events.
- Faster warming speeds up snowmelt and flash floods; cloudbursts, avalanches and GLOFs hit hill communities and downstream basins harder.
| Period | Himalayan disasters |
|---|
| Before 1962 | 5 |
| 2013-2022 | 68 (44% of national total) |
| 1900-2022 | 240 of 687 |
Why an EWS matters
- Early alerts permit timely evacuation and save lives.
- Real-time hazard detection speeds emergency response.
- Data records support risk modelling and climate adaptation.
- Local participation builds awareness and quick action.
Examples
| Place | What worked |
|---|
| Switzerland | Local coordination and live alerts averted glacier-collapse disasters |
| China (Cirenmaco Lake) | Satellite-fed system with unmanned monitoring boats |
| India | MoEFCC-funded AI hailstorm warnings for apple growers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand |
Technology and challenges
- AI models, satellites and drones aid prediction and monitoring; drones face limits of terrain, weather and cost.
- Hurdles: rugged terrain, weak connectivity, lack of affordable indigenous technology, overlapping institutions and low community training.
Exam angle
- Related terms: GLOF, cloudburst, EWS.
- Ministry mentioned: MoEFCC.