As we prepare to release this report, India’s Himalayan region faces heavy rainfall & high alert, creating widespread panic among citizens. These geologically fragile areas frequently experience extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and cloudbursts, triggering landslides, flash floods, & land subsidence.

But why are these hazards increasing? How equipped are these communities to tackle disasters? Can traditional knowledge & technology boost their resilience? Are government risk reduction efforts yielding results?

With these questions in mind, Team Nagrika conducted a survey on disaster landscapes in hill towns across the Indian Himalayan Region, receiving 61 responses in just two days from 34 cities, including Dharamsala, Gangtok, and Almora. We also interviewed six individuals with firsthand experience or active engagement with disaster-afflicted communities in the Himalayan region.

In response to the question, “Have you or your family ever experienced the significant effects of a rainfall-induced disaster?” 73.8% said yes, which shows that these disasters have significantly impacted the daily lives of people in these regions. The most significant concern reported was transportation disruption, with 62% of respondents identifying it as the primary impact of severe rainfall. But, are losses incurred by the Himalayas during a disaster more than losses of infrastructure and the serene landscape? Because there are many underlying, immeasurable, non-economic losses these communities face!

The survey findings reveal that only 7% of respondents know that their hill towns have a master plan. This raises the question: Do these towns lack master plans, or are residents simply uninformed? The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have mandated that all hill towns prepare master plans and assess their carrying capacity. For instance, the Shimla Development Plan 2041 emphasises balancing development with ecological preservation, banning construction in green areas, and limiting buildings to two-and-a-half stories in non-core and sinking zones. However, compliance with these norms remains questionable. As noted by a practicing architect, building regulations in Gangtok are frequently ignored.  In Uttarakhand, only 3 out of 39 hilly urban local bodies have valid master plans, with two expiring in 2025. This oversight leads to dangerous building practices like constructing houses along water streams. With only one town planner instead of the required 26, the region faces increased disaster risks.

The NDMA’s “Sachet” application, tackles rising disaster risks by offering near real-time early warnings & detailed guidelines for weather extremes. Alongside, the SDMA coordinates to provide message-based alerts to citizens. Our survey reveals that 75% of respondents receive these alerts during heavy rains, but only 16% find them useful for daily planning. Meanwhile, 55% consider them somewhat helpful, & others find them of little use. This highlights a need for improving the effectiveness of early warning systems to better assist citizens in managing their daily lives amid disaster risks. 

Although a comprehensive study is needed to understand the disasters in the Himalayas, available evidence suggests that unregulated, poorly planned infrastructure projects are a significant factor. The region is warming faster than the rest of the country, is particularly susceptible to climate change.

Survey findings suggest that residents of Himalayan towns experience and witness frequent disasters but often lack awareness about planning norms and resilience strategies. While 59% of respondents are uncertain about the presence of NGOs or CSOs involved in disaster management, 41% believe such organizations are absent, 11% recognize the efforts of active individuals & groups.

Himalayan communities, drawing from their historical experiences with disasters, have gathered valuable insights on preventive measures against disasters. How are the communities responding to disasters in the face of changing landscapes? How do they respond & make use of local knowledge? In current times, as a response to increasing landslides in Nog, Himachal Pradesh, a local community collaborated with the government to use bioengineering methods on the slopes, reducing landslide risks by planting vegetation within the mesh grid of gabion walls.

This now raises an important question. “How important does it become to train communities and youths to respond to these disasters?” Are there any existing initiatives to help communities face disaster better? Himalayan Welfare Foundation, based in Pahalgam, conducts frequent clean-up campaigns, clears waste from local streams to prevent blockages during the monsoon. Additionally, they educate local residents on being proactive during emergencies!

Himalayan towns face complex challenges in disaster management. Despite some advancements in disaster management and early warning systems, issues like inadequate infrastructure, slow communication, especially in remote areas, still limit their effectiveness. While traditional knowledge & community-driven efforts are vital, a comprehensive, region-specific plans and robust response frameworks is needed. For Himalayan communities, it is essential to consider the following: How can local knowledge, technological innovations be leveraged for disaster resilience? How can communities and local organizations collaborate more effectively to bolster disaster preparedness and response?

To discover such insights from our citizen survey and expert conversations, download our report now!

Because it is “That time of the year again: are the Himalayan towns better prepared this time?”