Cloud Bursting Over Leh

Presented By:-
Manish Kumar Saraswat
2K17/CECE/28
 Content
• An Overview about Cloud Bursting
• Flash Flood
• Effects of Flash Flood
• 2010 Leh Flash Flood
• Aftermath of the disaster
• Relief/Rescue efforts
• Ways to prevent and control Flash Flood
• Flood Safety measures
• References
An Overview about Cloud Bursting

• A cloudburst is an extreme amount of precipitation,

sometimes with hail and thunder, which normally lasts
no longer than a few minutes but is capable of
creating flood conditions.
• Meteorologists say the rain fall rate equal to or
greater than 100mm per hour is a cloudburst. The
associated convective cloud, can extend up to height
of 15km above the ground.
• They occur most often in desert and mountainous
regions, and in interior regions of continental
landmasses.
• During a cloudburst, more than 20mm of rain may
fall in a few minutes. They are called ‘burst’ probably
because it was believed earlier that clouds were
solid masses full of water. So, these violent storms
were attributed to their bursting.
• When there are instances of cloudbursts, the results
can be disastrous. Cloudburst is also responsible for
Flash Flood creation.
 Flash Flood
• A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas-
washes, riveers, dry lakes and basins.
• It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a
storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from
ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields.
• Flash floods are distinguished from a regular flood
by a timescale less than six hours.
• Cloudbursting is one of the other causes to flash
flood.as it occurs within minutes or few hours of
excessive rainfall.
 Effects of Flash Floods
Primary Effects:
• Physical damage- Can range anywhere from
bridges, cars, buildings, sewer systems, roadways,
canals and any other type of structure.
• Casualties- People and livestock die due to
drowning. It can also lead to epidemics and diseases.
Secondary Effects:
• Water Supplies- Contamination of water. Clean
drinking becomes scarce.
• Diseases- Unhygienic conditions. Spread of water-
borne diseases.
• Crops and Food Supplies- Shortage of food crops
can be caused due to loss of entire harves.
Long term Effects:
• Economic- Economic hardship, due to temporary
decline in tourism.
• Rebuilding costs
• Foods shortage leading to inflation, etc.
 2010 Leh Flash Flood
Key Facts about Disaster:
• Duration: 6 August 2010
• Fatalities: at least 255 killed, 29 missing
• Damages: Rs 133 crs.
• Areas Affected: Leh, and numerous other villages
in Ladakh range.
• The 2010 Ladakh floods occurred on 6 August 201
across a large part of Ladakh, a region of the
northern most Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The flash Floods happened after a night of heavy
downpour. The cloudburst itself occurred between
00:00-00:30 hours IST, leading to Flash Flooding,
debris flows, and mudslides over the region.
• The most intense part of the storm was focused in a
6km wide band parallel to and a few kilometers from
the river Indus.
• Some estimates of the maximum total rainfall in
some places were as high as 250mm, and at least
150mm/h over Leh during the most intense part of
the storm.
 Aftermath of the Disaster
• The rain occurred at night, and surprised everyone.
In Leh, many buildings were destroyed including
hospitals, the bus terminal, radio station transmitter,
telephone exchange and mobile- phone towers.
• 71 towns and villages were damaged, including the
main town in the area, Leh.
• Overall, 9000 people were affected by the event.
• At least 255 people are reported to have died, 6 of
whom were foreign tourists, after a cloud burst and
heavy overnight rains triggered Flash Floods,
mudslides, and debris flows.
• 200 people were reported missing in the initial
aftermath of the storm and thousands more were
rendered homeless after the flooding caused extensive
damage to property and infrastructure.
• BSNL communication systems were fully destroyed.
Communications were later restored by Indian Army.
• The local bus station was severely damage and some
were carried more than a mile by the mud.
• The city’s airport was damaged but was rapidly
repaired to allow relief flights the following day.
• In total, almost 1500 homes in 71 settlements across
the area were reported to have been damaged.
 Relief/Rescue Efforts
• The rescue efforts were hampered by gushing water and
mud which was 10 feet high in places. In addition many
of the roads and bridges leading to Leh were damaged
making it difficult to truck in relief supplies.
• Four hundred critically wounded people were evacuated
and some were admitted to the army hospital in Leh.
Indian army soldiers launched massive rescue operation.
• Home minister said that over 6000 secuirty personnel
were deployed in Leh for rescue operations. Prime
minister expressed grief and announced compensation of
Rs 1 lakh to the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for those
injured.
Disaster in Pictures
 Ways To Prevent and Control Flash
Flood
• Flood-control dams are constructed throughout across
rivers.
• Dikes and levees are built alongside rivers to keep them
from overflowing during the period of high water.
• Canals are also used to help drain off extra water.
Streams and rivers can be diverted to avoid highly
populated areas.
• Regulation of floodplain development and urbanization
would reduce flood losses.
• Plant lots of trees, treat slopes and grads and create
reservoirs to catch sediments and debris.
 Flood Safety
• Stay out of areas subjected to flooding: Dips, low
spots, canyons, washes etc can be filled with water.
• If outdoors, climb to the high ground and stay there.
• If you come upon the flowing stream where water is
above your ankles, stop, turn around, and go
another way.
• Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift
water.
 References
• en.wikipedia.org
• www.researchgate.net
• www.news18.com
• blogs.wsj.com
• in.pinterest.com
• www.rediff.com
THANK YOU !