US EditionClimate change makes South Asia’s monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains
HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA, JUL 10 – Heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides and infrastructure damage in Himachal Pradesh, with at least 72 fatalities reported amid ongoing relief efforts, officials said.
- Heavy rains and flooding during the 2024 monsoon season in South Asia, especially in Himachal Pradesh, killed over 1,300 people and caused widespread damage.
- This devastation resulted from climatic shifts causing more frequent and intense extreme rainfall events that overwhelm drainage and flood defenses across the region.
- Glacial lake overflows, driven by melting glaciers in the Hindu Kush and Himalayas, also triggered fatal floods in October 2023, damaging infrastructure including a hydropower dam in Sikkim.
- The State Disaster Management Authority reported 54 deaths from rain-related incidents and 31 from road accidents, while over 200 roads, nearly 200 transformers, and 740 water schemes faced disruption.
- Officials and scientists emphasize the urgent need for proactive, long-term strategies integrating science, policy, and community efforts to adapt and reduce future flood risks.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Impact of temperature shocks on household water poverty in India
Climate change-induced temperature shocks disrupt the natural water balance and consequently intensify households’ water poverty. In this study, we examine the impact of temperature shocks on households’ water poverty in India using household-level data from two rounds of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and climate data from the India Meteorological Department. We find that additional days above 9 °C, especially above 33 °C, significan…
Puppy helps over 60 villagers escape catastrophic landslide: 'Without him, we might not be here'
In the quiet village of Siyathi in Himachal Pradesh, a small dog made an extraordinary difference, according to The Hindu. When devastating cloudbursts unleashed flash floods and landslides across India's Mandi district on the night of June 30, a sleeping puppy became an unlikely hero. By simply listening to his instincts — and letting out a howl that roused the entire neighborhood — this 5-month-old dog, reportedly named Rocky, helped save more…
Climate change makes South Asia's monsoon more prone to floods and landslides
Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country's farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have alre…
Letter to the editor: Why no blame for climate change with recent flash floods?
In response to a cyclone in Pakistan in 1971, Garrett Hardin wrote a letter to Science magazine. He said that the 500,000 people who died lived in a flood plain where, if Pakistan was not over-populated, “no sane person” would choose to live. Although the press blamed the horrific death toll on the storm, Hardin said that, “One thing is certain: we won’t blame the deaths on overpopulation. No one ever dies of overpopulation. It is unthinkable.” …
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