Natural disasters in India

Landslides are very common in the Lower Himalayas. The young age of the region's hills results in rock formations, which are susceptible to slippages. Rising population and development pressures, particularly from logging and tourism, cause deforestation. The result is denuded hillsides which exacerbate the severity of landslides; since tree, cover impedes the downhill flow of water.{{harvnb|Allaby|1998|p=26}}. Parts of the Western Ghats also suffer from low-intensity landslides. Avalanches occurrences are common in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim etc. Landslides in India are also highly dangerous as many Indian families and farmers reside in the hills or mountains.

{{main|Floods in India}}

Floods are the most common natural disaster in India. The heavy southwest monsoon rains cause the Brahmaputra and other rivers to distend their banks, often flooding surrounding areas. Though they provide rice paddy farmers with a largely dependable source of natural irrigation and fertilisation, the floods can kill thousands and displace millions. Excess, erratic, or untimely monsoon rainfall may also wash away or otherwise ruin crops.{{harvnb|Allaby|1998|p=42}}.{{harvnb|Allaby|1998|p=15}}. mostly that of all of India is flood-prone, and extremely precipitation events, such as flash floods and torrential rains, have become increasingly common in central India over the past several decades, coinciding with rising temperatures. Meanwhile, the annual precipitation totals have shown a gradual decline, due to a weakening monsoon circulation{{Cite journal|last1=Roxy|first1=Mathew Koll|last2=Ritika|first2=Kapoor|last3=Terray|first3=Pascal|last4=Murtugudde|first4=Raghu|last5=Ashok|first5=Karumuri|last6=Goswami|first6=B. N.|date=2015-06-16|title=Drying of Indian subcontinent by rapid Indian Ocean warming and a weakening land-sea thermal gradient|journal=Nature Communications|language=en|volume=6|pages=7423|doi=10.1038/ncomms8423|pmid=26077934|bibcode=2015NatCo...6.7423R|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01322870/document|doi-access=free|access-date=2019-09-01|archive-date=2019-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901143109/https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01322870/document|url-status=live}} as a result of the rapid warming in the Indian Ocean{{Cite journal|last1=Roxy|first1=Mathew Koll|last2=Ritika|first2=Kapoor|last3=Terray|first3=Pascal|last4=Masson|first4=Sébastien|date=2014-09-11|title=The Curious Case of Indian Ocean Warming|journal=Journal of Climate|volume=27|issue=22|pages=8501–8509|doi=10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00471.1|issn=0894-8755|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01141647/file/jclim2015_roxy_etal.pdf|bibcode=2014JCli...27.8501R|s2cid=42480067|access-date=2019-06-29|archive-date=2019-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903093421/https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01141647/file/jclim2015_roxy_etal.pdf|url-status=live}} and a reduced land-sea temperature difference. This means that there are more extreme rainfall events intermittent with longer dry spells over central India in the recent decades.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone may affect thousands of Indians living in the coastal regions. Tropical cyclogenesis is particularly common in the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean in and around the Bay of Bengal. Cyclones bring with them heavy rains, storm surges, and winds that often cut affected areas off from relief and supplies. In the North Indian Ocean Basin, the cyclone season runs from April to December, with peak activity between May and November.{{cite web |author=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division |title=Frequently Asked Questions: When is hurricane season? |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2006-07-25 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html |archive-date=2006-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718065833/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html |url-status=live }} Each year, an average of eight storms with sustained wind speeds greater than {{convert|63|km/h|mi/h|0}} form; of these, two strengthen into true tropical cyclones, which have sustained gusts greater than {{convert|117|km/h|mi/h|0}}. On average, a major (Category 3 or higher) cyclone develops every other year.{{Cite web | author = Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division | title = Frequently Asked Questions: When is hurricane season? | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = July 25, 2006 | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html | archive-date = July 18, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060718065833/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html | url-status = live }}{{cite web |author=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division |title=Frequently Asked Questions: What are the average, most, and least tropical cyclones occurring in each basin? |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2006-07-25 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E10.html |archive-date=2012-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731201905/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E10.html |url-status=live }}

During summer, the Bay of Bengal is subject to intense heating, giving rise to humid and unstable air masses that produce cyclones. Many powerful cyclones, including the 1737 Calcutta cyclone, the 1970 Bhola cyclone, the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone, the 1999 Odisha cyclone, and 2019s Cyclone Fani in Odisha and Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat, have led to widespread devastation along parts of the eastern coast of India and neighboring Bangladesh. Widespread death and property destruction are reported every year in exposed Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. India's western coast, bordering the more placid Arabian Sea, experiences cyclones only rarely; these mainly strike Gujarat and, less frequently, Kerala and sometimes Odisha.

In terms of damage and loss of life, the 1999 Odisha cyclone, a super cyclone that struck Odisha on 29 October 1999, was the worst in more than a quarter-century. With peak winds of {{convert|160|mi/h|km/h|0}}, it was the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. Almost two million people were left homeless;{{cite web |url=http://baps-care.org/services/disaster/1990/1999supercyclone.htm |title=1999 Supercyclone of Orissa |year=2005 |work=BAPS Care International |access-date=2007-04-08 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144115/http://baps-care.org/services/disaster/1990/1999supercyclone.htm |url-status=dead }} another 20 million people's lives were disrupted by the cyclone. Officially, 9,803 people died from the storm;{{cite web |url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr/pdf/05b.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclone 05B |work=Naval Maritime Forecast Center (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) |access-date=2007-04-08 |archive-date=2011-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607012159/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr/pdf/05b.pdf |url-status=dead }} unofficial estimates place the death toll at over 10,100.

In terms of damage and asset destruction, Cyclone Amphan,{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/imd-cyclone-amphan-turns-into-severe-cyclonic-storm-odisha-bengal-on-high-alert/as75801393.cms |title=2020 Supercyclone Amphhan |website=The Times of India |year=2020 |access-date=2020-06-05 |archive-date=2020-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604110132/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/imd-cyclone-amphan-turns-into-severe-cyclonic-storm-odisha-bengal-on-high-alert/as75801393.cms |url-status=live }} a super cyclone that struck West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh on 20 May 2020 is, as of that date, the worst in India in the 21st century. With peak winds of {{convert|260|km/h|mi/h|0}} to {{convert|280|km/h|mi/h|0}}, it was the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. Almost 5 million (50 lakh) people are left homeless in West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh; another 10 million (1 crore) people's lives were disrupted by the cyclone. Officially, 128 people died from the storm. Official damage and asset destruction estimate is 13.40 to 13.69 billion US Dollars;{{cite web | url=https://www.xe.com/currency/usd-us-dollar | title=US Dollar | access-date=2020-06-05 | archive-date=2020-05-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522042815/https://www.xe.com/currency/usd-us-dollar | url-status=live }} it is the costliest and most damaging cyclone ever to occur in the Bay of Bengal.

2021 Cyclone Tauktae killed at least 104 people, the highest in a decade.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-27|title=Explained: How does Tauktae compare with other cyclones in severity and damage?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-tauktae-compares-with-other-cyclones-in-severity-damage-7324998/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607112520/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-tauktae-compares-with-other-cyclones-in-severity-damage-7324998/|url-status=live}}

{{main|Effects of climate change in India}}

The Indian meteorological department has declared that water cycle will be more intense, with higher annual average rainfall as well increased drought in future years.{{Cite web | url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/india-climate-5-water-DEFRA.pdf | title=Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in India | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133820/http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/india-climate-5-water-DEFRA.pdf |archive-date=2018-07-03 }} A 20% rise in monsoon over most states is also predicted.{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237247341|title=Climate change, sustainable development and India: Global and national concerns|first1=Jayant|last1=Sathaye|first2=Priyadarshi|last2=Shukla|first3=N|last3=H. Ravindranath|date=30 November 2005|journal=Curr Sci|volume=90|via=ResearchGate}} A 2 °C rise in global average temperature will make Indian monsoon highly unpredictable.{{Cite web | url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/cc10.pdf | title=High-resolution climate change scenarios for India for the 21st century | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703162325/http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/cc10.pdf | archive-date=2018-07-03 }} At 4 °C an extremely wet monsoon which currently has a 1 in 100 year's chance will occur in every 10 years by 2100. Extremes in maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation will increase particularly over western coast and central and north-east India.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts|title=India: Climate Change Impacts|access-date=2018-07-03|archive-date=2018-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133455/http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts|url-status=live}}

The dry years are expected to be drier and wet years wetter due to Climate Change.

The per capital availability of freshwater in India is expected to drop below 1000 cubic meters by 2025 because of population growth and climate change. River basins of Kaveri, Penna, Mahi, Sabarmati, Tapi, Luni and few others are already water scarce. Krishna and Subarnarekha may become so by 2025. High population density, coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion and exposure to storm surges makes Ganga, Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi coastal river deltas "hotspots" of climate change vulnerability.

Glaciers are the main source of water for the Himalayan Rivers such as Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus. 67% of Himalayan glaciers have receded in the past decade and continue to diminish with increasing rates. The Ganga and the Indus are likely to become water scarce by 2025.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/news/india-will-be-hotspot-water-crisis-2025-un|title=India will be the hotspot of water crisis by 2025: UN|website=www.indiawaterportal.org|access-date=2018-07-03|archive-date=2018-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133416/http://www.indiawaterportal.org/news/india-will-be-hotspot-water-crisis-2025-un|url-status=live}}

Since 1962, the overall glacier area has reduced by 21% from 2077 km² to 1628 km². This will lead to water shortages becoming acuter with time and may endanger food security and energy generation.{{Cite web|url=https://saded.in/kulkarni_gw_effect_himalayanglaciers_shrinkage/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123140803/http://www.saded.in/PDF%20Files/Kulkarni_GW_Effect_HimalayanGlaciers_Shrinkage.pdf|url-status=dead |title=Impact of Global Warming on the Himalayan Cryosphere|date=August 7, 2023|archivedate=November 23, 2018}}

Rise in sea temperature and sea level leads to loss of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, salination, erosion and flooding and also increases occurrence and intensity of storms along entire shoreline. Climate Change impacts are already observed in submergence of coastal lands in the Sundarbans,{{cite web|url=https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/01/17/sinking-sundarbans-islands-underline-climate-crisis/|title=Sinking Sundarbans islands underline climate crisis|date=17 January 2018|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133950/https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/01/17/sinking-sundarbans-islands-underline-climate-crisis/|url-status=live}} loss of wetlands{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318164151|title=Flood plain wetland fisheries of India: with special reference to impact of climate change|first1=uttam|last1=Sarkar|first2=Bibha|last2=Borah|date=28 June 2017|journal=Wetlands Ecology and Management|volume=26|pages=1–15|via=ResearchGate|doi=10.1007/s11273-017-9559-6|s2cid=3807851}} and of coral reefs by bleaching,{{cite journal|title=Coral Reef Ecosystems under Climate Change and Ocean Acidification|first1=Ove|last1=Hoegh-Guldberg|first2=Elvira S.|last2=Poloczanska|first3=William|last3=Skirving|first4=Sophie|last4=Dove|date=8 June 2018|journal=Frontiers in Marine Science|volume=4|doi=10.3389/fmars.2017.00158|doi-access=free}} and an estimated sea level rise of 1.06 - 1.75 mm/year.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Low-end scenarios estimate sea levels in Asia will be at least 40  cm higher by 2100. The IPCC calculates that it would expose 13–94 million people to flooding, with about 60% of this total in South Asia. A sea-level rise of 100 cm would inundate 5,763 cubic km of India's landmass.{{cite web|url=https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch10s10-4-3.html|title=10.4.3 Coastal and low lying areas – AR4 WGII Chapter 10: Asia|website=www.ipcc.ch|access-date=2018-07-03|archive-date=2018-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133557/https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch10s10-4-3.html|url-status=live}} It will severely affect populations in megacities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai due to land submergence and extreme weather events.{{Cite web | url=https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/22062/1/MPRA_paper_22062.pdf | title=Vulnerability and Climate Change: An Analysis of the Eastern Coastal Districts of India | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813013514/https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/22062/1/MPRA_paper_22062.pdf | archive-date=2017-08-13 }}

Increase in sea surface temperature increases frequency, intensity, scale and destructive power of tropical cyclones.{{cite journal|title=Impact of Ocean Warming on Tropical Cyclone Size and Its Destructiveness|first1=Yuan|last1=Sun|first2=Zhong|last2=Zhong|first3=Tim|last3=Li|first4=Lan|last4=Yi|first5=Yijia|last5=Hu|first6=Hongchao|last6=Wan|first7=Haishan|last7=Chen|first8=Qianfeng|last8=Liao|first9=Chen|last9=Ma|first10=Qihua|last10=Li|date=15 August 2017|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=7|issue=1|pages=8154|doi=10.1038/s41598-017-08533-6|pmid=28811627|pmc=5557849|bibcode=2017NatSR...7.8154S}}

500Mha land in the Asia Pacific region is already experiencing land degradation.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXnTBwAAQBAJ&q=500Mha%2C+Asia+Pacific+region+land+degradation&pg=PA72|title=Climate Change and Developing Countries|first1=Nijavalli H.|last1=Ravindranath|first2=Jayant A.|last2=Sathaye|date=11 April 2006|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|via=Google Books|isbn=9780306479809|access-date=1 December 2020|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117104719/https://books.google.com/books?id=YXnTBwAAQBAJ&q=500Mha%2C+Asia+Pacific+region+land+degradation&pg=PA72|url-status=live}} The summers have already become more intense in India with some regions regularly reporting temperatures around 47 °C.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/20/india-records-its-hottest-day-ever-as-temperature-hits-51c-thats-1238f|title=India records its hottest day ever as temperature hits 51C (that's 123.8F)|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=20 May 2016|website=the Guardian|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=23 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523121104/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/20/india-records-its-hottest-day-ever-as-temperature-hits-51c-thats-1238f|url-status=live}} In the last four years, India has seen as many as over 4,620 deaths caused by heat waves, according to data published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-killer-heatwaves-claim-4620-deaths-in-last-four-years-4624944/|title=India's killer heatwaves claim 4620 deaths in last four years|date=23 April 2017|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703163341/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-killer-heatwaves-claim-4620-deaths-in-last-four-years-4624944/|url-status=live}}

Indian Meteorological Department declared that the storm that hit northern India in May 2018 was severe and their frequency could increase due to global warming. This is due to an increase in the intensity of the wind and dryness of the soil which increases the intensity of dust storms. The rise in land surface temperature will be more pronounced in the northern part of India. A recent study reports that summers could last up to 8 months in the Gangetic plain by 2070 if the global temperature increases beyond 2 °C.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/effects-of-climate-change-summers-in-india-could-last-for-8-months-by-2070-if-global-warming-continues-say-researchers-4297739.html|title=Effects of climate change: If global warming continues, summers in India could last for 8 months by 2070, say researchers – Firstpost|website=www.firstpost.com|date=11 January 2018|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133508/https://www.firstpost.com/india/effects-of-climate-change-summers-in-india-could-last-for-8-months-by-2070-if-global-warming-continues-say-researchers-4297739.html|url-status=live}}

Increasingly severe and frequent Heat waves may substantially increase mortality and death incidences.{{cite web|url=https://india.mongabay.com/2018/05/08/dust-storms-may-increase-in-india-due-to-climate-change/|title=Dust storms may increase in India due to climate change|website=india.mongabay.com|date=2018-05-08|access-date=2018-07-03|archive-date=2018-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703143519/https://india.mongabay.com/2018/05/08/dust-storms-may-increase-in-india-due-to-climate-change/|url-status=live}} Such warming conditions along with the water scarcities aggravates the impacts of droughts.{{cite book |last1=Swain|display-authors=etal|first1=S |title=2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) |chapter=Application of SPI, EDI and PNPI using MSWEP precipitation data over Marathwada, India |volume=2017 |pages=5505–5507 |doi=10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8128250 |year=2017|isbn=978-1-5090-4951-6|s2cid=26920225}}

• National Disaster Management Authority (India)
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a union force under NDMA
• Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF)
• State Disaster Response Force (Assam)
• Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA)

{{Portal|Ecology|India}}

• Climate change in South Asia
• Floods in India

{{reflist|2}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Toman |first1=MA |last2=Chakravorty |first2=U |last3=Gupta |first3=S |title=India and Global Climate Change: Perspectives on Economics and Policy from a Developing Country |year=2003 |publisher=Resources for the Future Press |isbn=978-1-891853-61-6}}

{{commons|Atlas of India}}

; General overview

• {{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002240 |title=Country Guide: India |work=BBC Weather |access-date=2007-11-16 |archive-date=2005-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525125046/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002240 |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.hcilondon.net/tourism-information/weather.html |title=India—Weather and Climate |work=High Commission of India, London |access-date=2007-11-16 |archive-date=2008-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201061945/http://www.hcilondon.net/tourism-information/weather.html |url-status=live }}

; Reports

• [http://www.environmentportal.in/reports-documents/disaster-management-india-0 Disaster management in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006201109/http://environmentportal.in/reports-documents/disaster-management-india-0 |date=2011-10-06 }}

; Resources on Natural Disasters

• [http://www.environmentportal.in/category/thesaurus/floods Resources on floods] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006193940/http://environmentportal.in/category/thesaurus/floods |date=2011-10-06 }}
• [http://www.environmentportal.in/category/thesaurus/drought Resources on Drought] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827162852/http://www.environmentportal.in/category/thesaurus/drought |date=2011-08-27 }}

; Maps, imagery, and statistics

• {{cite web |url=http://www.imd.gov.in/ |title=India Meteorological Department |work=Government of India |access-date=2007-11-16 |archive-date=2014-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104130804/http://www.imd.gov.in/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.weather.nic.in/ |title=Weather Resource System for India |work=National Informatics Centre |access-date=2007-11-16 |archive-date=2007-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429135833/http://www.weather.nic.in/ |url-status=dead }}

; Forecasts

• {{cite web |url=http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/IN_cc.html |title=India: Current Weather Conditions |work=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |access-date=2007-04-24 |archive-date=2007-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425135805/http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/IN_cc.html |url-status=live }}

{{refend}}

{{Natural disasters in India}}

{{Disasters}}

{{global warming}}

{{Social issues in India}}

Category:Climate of India

Category:Environment of India

Category:Environmental history of India