ABSTRACT
The Himalayan region is very susceptible to disasters. The North Indian State of Uttarakhand, with abundant perpendicular slopes, ample water and turbulent rivers has a history of ecological chaos. A multi-day cloud burst (sudden violent rainstorm) centred on the Uttarakhand from 14 to 17 June 2013 caused devastating floods and landslides which became India’s worst natural disaster since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The enormity was exceptional in 130 years of Indian meteorological records. More than 6,000 people and thousands of animals lost their lives; many were stranded for days before being rescued. Tens of thousands of houses, public buildings and over 15,000 kilometres of roads got damaged and 4,000 villages were affected.
