Disaster At Kotrupi
Sunil Sharma (cover story)
The disaster that struck Kotrupi village in Mandi district on the night intervening August 12 and 13 claimed 46 lives besides leaving many locals homeless and landless. Two buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation, one vehicle and one motorbike were buried under a massive landslide (shown above) from a hillock. The ill-fated buses were plying on Manali-Katra and Chamba-Manali routes when the tragedy struck. Eyewitnesses said boulders started falling from the hill two hours before the landslide. Twenty members of five families had a providential escape as they quickly moved to a safer place just before the impending disaster. Landslides are common sites during rains in Himachal that is witnessing climate change. However, the state has so far failed to put in place a proper disaster management plan. The unscientific cutting of hillocks for construction of roads is another reason cited for increasing landslides resulting in loss of lives. Knowledgeable person feel that hillocks are being razed with dynamite explosions thus weakening already fragile strata. Serious thinking has to be done for evolving a developmental model suitable for hills to prevent such tragedies, they add.
Providential Escape…
An 18 years old girl, Beauty Sharma of Shimla, was trapped in damaged Manali-Katra bus and was spotted by another driver of Trilokinath bus service. She had a providential escape and was taken out with the help of cutters after three hours.
No Survey Before Road Construction
Public Works department neither conducts geological survey nor prepares Geo-technical report before construction of roads in Himachal. For example, the department does not have any geological report about formation of hillocks where roads are to be constructed. Only a detailed project report is prepared before initiating construction work. Difficulties further increase when fragile hillocks are razed with the help of dynamite explosions. There is a provision of preparing Geo-technical reports before construction of roads with financial assistance from the World Bank. The funding institution has also made it mandatory to have environment management plan and environment impact assessment report along with project reports of roads. Area from Kiratpur to Manali falls in Shivalik zone. Experts say hills in the entire area are fragile as these are still in building stage. Dynamite explosions further weaken these hills thus leading to increased incidents of landslides during rainy season. However, the PWD has not learnt lessons from such incidents as it has not submitted any report to the government to make Geo-technical report mandatory. Himachal falls in sensitive zone with regard to earthquakes and natural disasters. Surprisingly, PWD has never given a thought to this safety aspect in construction of roads.
Separate Geological Wing
A separate geological wing is working under Industries Department in Himachal. Having a good number of geologists, the department has been restricted only to auction of sand, stone and minerals. This wing and PWD should coordinate to reports where roads are to be constructed, feel experts. However, none of the governments has paid any heed to this aspect.
No Initiative By Forest Department
Forest Department doesn’t have any project to check soil erosion for preventing landslides. Though emphasis is laid on afforestation in such vulnerable places, yet its success rate is debatable even as the department claims 60% success rate.
35,000 Km Roads
Total length of roads in Himachal is about 35,000 kilometres. Barring World Bank funded roads, there is no binding of preparing a Geo-technical report for construction of state and national highways in this hilly state.
No Plan To Tackle Climate Change
Himachal Pradesh is aware about changing climate but doesn’t have any plan to cope with the changing scenario to minimize losses. Mock drills are rehearsed but nothing works when needed the most. The rain pattern is also changing in the state where only meetings are held in the name of preparations. A disaster management wing has been constituted that is suppose to keep in touch with deputy commissioners. Mock drills serve as creating awareness among people but such committees have not been constituted at village level. Though a plan is in pipeline for every district but nothing is being done at ground level. Climate change is considered as the main reason behind increasing mishaps during rains in Himachal but nothing concrete is visible at implementation level.
-By Shaqueel Qureshi
Landslide Monitoring System
A project, Landslide Monitoring System’ by IIT, Mandi can prove beneficial in avoiding Kotrupi like disasters in future in this hilly state. The institute is preparing to install it near Hanogi temple on Mandi-Kullu highway as the area is prone to landslides. Equipped with sensors, the monitoring system will generate an alarm before any disaster like earthquake or landslide. It will provide valuable time for people to save their lives in case of emergency. Notably, the project has been successful during initial testing. The state Council for Science, Technology and Environment had entrusted this project to IIT Mandi that is working in association with central agencies. The state had funded Rs. 6 lakh for the project being handled by project in charge Dr. Varun Dutt along with other scientists including Dr. Uday V Kala, Dr. Prateek Chaturvedi, Dr. Vir Bhushan
* The monitoring system will detect movement in hills and under ground due to rains or earthquake
* Devices are installed underground to detect primary and secondary waves
-By Ashish Bharmoria/Mandi
Change Developmental Model
Tinkering with nature is proving dangerous in lifestyle of Himachalis. Disaster incidents have increased due to developmental activities being implemented in this hilly state. Incidents of landslides have increasing claiming many lives. Geologists feel that model of development should be changed as hills in Mid Himalayan and Shivalik zones are proving dangerous. Hills are razed for construction of roads but seepage of water in these hills results in landslides. There are forewarning signals but no one has time to read them to avoid mishaps. Geologists feel that construction of tunnels and bridges by inflicting least damage to hills can reduce landslide incidents. Fresh surveys need to be done for developmental projects as previous surveys have become obsolete, they add. Blasting also weakens strata of hills.
* Geological Survey of India has undertaken survey of sensitive hills in Himachali
* The survey mentions about district wise situation
Disaster Reserve Force Not Constituted
The state disaster reserve force (SDRF) has not been constituted until now as it was proposed in state disaster management plan of 2012-13. Even quick response teams have not been constituted in districts after five years. The SDRF was supposed to include Police, Fire Brigade, Home Guards and personnel from other concerned departments. Necessary directions were also passed on to states under National Disaster Management Force but it is a big negligence in a state like Himachal considered to be prone to disasters. As a result, people face hardships during rains and snowfall due to a lack of necessary infrastructure.
* 170 lives lost in road and natural disasters since June 22
* Rs. 360 crore loss due to rains in Himachali
* Roads, water supply and irrigation schemes affected
Govt To Rehabilitate Homeless
The state government will provide shelter to those rendered homeless during Kotrupi disaster. Chief Secretary VC Pharka along with other officials visited the spot to monitor the situation. He assured that government will help all those affected by the disaster, including those rendered landless and homeless.
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