All Things Policy India's Flash Flood Reality and the Challenges Ahead
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Sep 12, 2025 Vipul Anand, a consultant at the Bureau of Indian Standards and former ISRO scientist, discusses India's escalating flash flood challenges. He highlights the alarming rise of flash floods in northern regions like Uttarakhand, detailing their distinct characteristics compared to regular floods. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of the Indian Meteorological Department in enhancing predictive accuracy and early warning systems. With insights into urban flooding linked to glacial lakes, Anand advocates for tailored strategies and improved community engagement in disaster management.
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Flash Floods Are Defined By Speed
- Flash floods are defined by their rapid onset, occurring within minutes to hours and overwhelming response capacity.
- Their sudden duration, not just volume, makes them harder to predict and manage compared to gradual riverine floods.
Recent Glacial Lake Outburst Examples
- Vipul cites the 4 October 2023 South Lonark Lake event in Sikkim as a recent glacial lake outburst example.
- He also references massive glacier lake outbursts in Pakistan to show regional parallels and impacts.
Satellite Mapping Reveals Hidden Lake Risks
- Remote sensing now maps many Himalayan glacial lakes and flags numerous potentially dangerous, expanding lakes.
- Improved monitoring reveals risks that earlier technology could not detect, increasing apparent frequency of hazardous lakes.