Saralnama
In 2025, Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall and Maharashtra faced warnings of intense precipitation, while Uttarakhand continues to deal with the aftermath of cloudbursts, glacier bursts, landslides, and flooding. The village of Dharali in Uttarakhand suffered severe damage on August 5 when a tributary of the Ganges turned into a destructive torrent, causing at least five deaths and leaving about 65 people missing. The destruction was worsened by construction too close to riverbanks and sediment deposits. Similar environmental challenges are seen in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir with landslides and dam collapses. Experts attribute these disasters to irresponsible construction in fragile areas and climate change effects, including extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and flooding. Despite warnings from scientists and environmentalists, government-backed infrastructure projects continue in vulnerable Himalayan regions, leading to deforestation and increased disaster risk. Mumbai’s floodplains and mangroves have also been compromised by urban development, reducing natural protections against floods. These events highlight the growing impact of climate change and human activity on India’s environment and disaster vulnerability. (Updated 24 Aug 2025, 17:16 IST; source: link)