Uttarakhand Avalanche

3 Mar 2025

Uttarakhand Avalanche

Recently, an avalanche hit a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site near Mana — India’s “first” village — in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, trapping several workers and prompting a rescue operation that involved multiple agencies.

About Avalanche

  •  Avalanche is a rapid descent of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope.
  • It is triggered by natural or human-induced factors.
  • It can cause widespread destruction, burying people, structures, and transport routes.

Snow avalanche zones

  • Red Zone – The most dangerous zone where snow avalanches are most frequent and have an impact pressure of more than 3 tonnes per square metre.
  • Blue Zone – Where the avalanche force is less than 3 tonnes per square metre and where living and other activities may be permitted with connection of safe design but such areas may have to be vacated on warning.
  •  Yellow Zone – Where snow avalanche occur only occasionally

Avalanches Prone Areas in India

  • The Himalayas are well known for the occurrence of snow avalanches particularly Western Himalayas I .e. the snowy regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh.
    • Jammu and Kashmir – Higher reaches of Kashmir and Gurez valleys, Kargil and Ladakh and some of the major roads
    • Himachal Pradesh – Chamba, Kullu- Spiti and Kinnaur vulnerable areas
    • Uttarakhand  – Parts of Tehri Garhwal and Chamoli districts are vulnerable areas.

Types of Avalanches

  • Loose Snow Avalanche:
    • Occurs on steep slopes (>40°) with loosely bonded snow.
    • Less deadly but disruptive.
  • AvalancheSlab Avalanche:
    • Large, cohesive snow layer fractures and slides.
    • Most deadly, with speeds up to 100 km/h.
  • Gliding Avalanche:
    • The entire snowpack slides over smooth surfaces (e.g., rock).
    • Common on slopes >15°.
  • Powder Avalanche:
    • High-speed avalanche with suspended snow particles in the air.
    • Can reach speeds of 300 km/h, creating severe shockwaves.
  • Wet Snow Avalanche:
    • Triggered by melting snow due to temperature rise or rain.
    • Slower but more destructive due to high density.

Causes of Avalanches

  • Natural Causes:
    • Heavy Snowfall & Wind: Uneven snow accumulation causes instability.
    • Steep Slopes: Most likely on slopes between 30° and 45°.
    • Temperature Fluctuations: Melting and refreezing weakens snow layers.
    • Earthquakes & Vibrations: Can trigger avalanches.
  • Human-Induced Causes:
    • Winter Sports & Tourism: Disturb snow layers, increasing instability.
    • Construction & Deforestation: Weakens slope stability.
    • Military Operations: Explosions and heavy equipment can trigger avalanches.

Avalanche

Consequences & Impact

  • Loss of Life & Injuries: Suffocation, trauma, hypothermia; survival chances drop after 15 minutes of burial.
  • Destruction of Infrastructure: Bury roads, railways, buildings, and shelters.
  • Disruptions in Communication & Utilities: Damages power lines, water supply, and communication networks.
  • Environmental Hazards: Melting snow causes landslides and flash floods, harming ecosystems.
  • Economic Impact: Disrupts tourism, damages infrastructure, and leads to recovery costs.

Precautionary Measures

  • Avalanche Early Warning Systems:
    • IMD Avalanche Forecasting: Tracks snowfall, slope stability, and temperature fluctuations to predict avalanches.
    • Remote Sensing & AI-Based Prediction Models: Utilizes technology for real-time detection and forecasting of avalanches.
  • Structural Protection Measures:
    • Snow Barriers & Fences: Installed on avalanche-prone slopes to reduce snow buildup and block its path.
    • Deflecting Structures: Redirect the avalanche away from populated areas to minimize damage.
  • Artificial Avalanche Triggers:
    • Controlled Explosions: Trigger smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent larger, uncontrollable ones from occurring.
  • Zoning & Land Use Planning:
    • Avoid Construction in Avalanche-Prone Areas: Ensure that buildings and infrastructure are not placed in high-risk zones.
    • Ski Resorts & Highways Risk Assessments: Ski resorts and highways must follow detailed risk assessment reports to minimize exposure to avalanche hazards.

Needed Actions Required to be Taken

  • Enhancing Real-Time Avalanche Forecasting: Strengthen satellite-based monitoring systems for early avalanche warnings.
  • Improving Infrastructure Resilience: Build avalanche protection tunnels and snow-retention fences along highways to reduce risk.
  • Stronger Coordination Between Agencies: Integrate efforts of IMD, BRO, NDMA, and ITBP for better disaster management and response.
  • Community Training & Awareness Programs: Educate local residents, trekkers, and military personnel on avalanche survival skills and safety protocols.
  • Encouraging Climate-Resilient Development: Prevent deforestation and unplanned construction in high-risk avalanche zones to reduce vulnerability.

Difference Between an Avalanche and a Landslide

Aspect Avalanche Landslide
  • Definition
  • Sudden downhill movement of snow, ice, and debris
  • Mass of rock, soil, or debris sliding down a hillside.
  • Speed
  • Can reach speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph).
  • Varies, typically slower than avalanches.
  • Causes
  • Heavy Snowfall, Weak snow layers, Earthquakes, Temperature Fluctuations Or human activity.
  • Rainfall, Deforestation, Earthquakes, mining
  • or human activity.
  • Location
  • Snow-covered mountains or slopes.
  • Steep slopes in various terrains (forests, urban areas, hills).

About Mana Village

  • Location: Situated in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
  • Border: Shares a border with China.
  • Formerly Known As: Referred to as the “Last Village” but now called the “First Indian Village”.
  • Geographical Features: Located on the banks of the River Saraswati, just 3 km from Badrinath town.
  • Renowned For: Famous for its woollen garments and materials made primarily from sheep wool.

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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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