The South Asian monsoon, which spans from June to September, brings about 80% of annual precipitation to the region. In 2023, this same monsoon period poured unprecedented rains in Himachal Pradesh causing havoc and loss (https://reliefweb.int/report/india/local-situation-report-0122023-16082023). For instance, the state witnessed 224.1mm of rainfall during five days between July 8 to July 12, which is a deviation of 431% increase from average rainfall, the highest since 1980. According to reports, on July 9, the Kullu district saw 131mm of rainfall in a single day which is the highest since 1971 causing loss of road infrastructure and lives. A monsoon surge, coupled with a western disturbance has led to extreme events resulting in flash floods, cloudbursts and associated landslides, subsidence and sinking of land(https://environicsindia.in/2023/09/08/preliminary-analysis-of-2023-disaster-across-himachal-pradesh/#:~:text=Three%20extreme%20spells%20(8%20to,some%20of%20the%20worst%20affected). Intense rainfall than normal tends to make more infiltration providing more water into the soil and below lying rock layers. This extra water when spills into nearby channels causing slow creep readjustment of the whole area in the form of subsidence. Similar subsidence events were reported in Sainj-Gushaini village where the permanent structure showed huge cracks and associated deformation. The members of the DExtER lab(IIT Mandi), visited the site in the Kullu district for a related study. The site intercepted deformation in the form of cracks in the houses, sinking of road etc. State of art PS-InSAR, SAR interferometry was performed in the area to decipher the rate of displacement. The results showed a high displacement rate (from -58mm/yr to 68mm/yr) at various locations of the village . Thus, It is concluded that the population dealing in the valley is vulnerable which will subsequently increase in the coming monsoon !
Comments