DOCSLIB.ORG

A Study on the Heavy Rainfall Event Around Kedarnath Area (Uttarakhand) on 16 June 2013

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Study on the Heavy Rainfall Event Around Kedarnath Area (Uttarakhand) on 16 June 2013 A study on the heavy rainfall event around Kedarnath area (Uttarakhand) on 16 June 2013 M S Shekhar1,∗, S Pattanayak2, U C Mohanty2, SPaul3 and M Sravana Kumar1 1Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment, Research & Development Centre, Him Parisar, Sector 37A, Chandigarh 160 036, India. 2School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Toshali Bhavan, Satya Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751 007, India. 3Meteorological Office, Sector-39, Chandigarh 160 022, India. ∗Corresponding author. e-mail: [email protected] The heavy rainfall event during 14–17 June 2013 in Uttarakhand and more specifically, its occurrence around the Kedarnath region on 16 June 2013 with devastating floods and massive landslides ruined thousands of lives and properties. Increasing levels of water in two main rivers of the State, namely Alaknanda and Mandakini, resulted in the collapse of bridges, damaging and washing away of property worth many crores. In the present study, the advanced research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) system (hereafter used as WRF model) is used to simulate this heavy rainfall event. The synoptic analysis at different locations such as Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri, Dehradun and adjoining districts suggested that the rainfall is about 200% more than normal. The rainfall associated with this event is well captured with the model simulation. The rainfall simulated by WRF model is in the range of 320–400 mm over Kedarnath during the actual occurrence of the event, which is in reasonably good agreement with the observed value of rainfall (325 mm) collected by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology. 1. Introduction During 14–17 June 2013, Uttarakhand and its adjoining areas received heavy rainfall associated The complex orography in the foothills of the with landslides that caused a huge damage and Himalayas and more specifically in the northern ceased many lives. Also, the occurrence of such states of India significantly influences the extreme high impact events in Uttarakhand during mon- events like heavy to very heavy rainfall/snowfall, soon season are not uncommon. Uttarakhand has avalanches, cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, experienced many such heavy rainfall events in etc. The low level convergence of south-easterlies the past, mainly during the months of July and and north-westerlies along with the complex ter- August. In September 1970, heavy rainfall and rain of foothills coupled with vertical shear of wind landslides claimed lives of 223 people in Uttara- and orographic uplifting lead to short-lived intense khand. Similarly, on 16 July 2001, 14 villages were convective precipitation. The mountainous regions affected, 27 people lost their lives in this event, of Uttarakhand are frequented by many weather- along with damage to 154 houses. More than 43 and terrain-related hazards due to its intricate geo- hectares of agricultural land was also washed away spatial location, leading to significant loss of lives and 11 km stretch of Rudraprayag–Kedarnath road and damage to the property. got severely damaged. On 6 August 2010, Leh was Keywords. Uttarakhand; heavy rainfall; floods; mesoscale model. J. Earth Syst. Sci. 124, No. 7, October 2015, pp. 1531–1544 c Indian Academy of Sciences 1531 1532 M S Shekhar et al. down-poured with a cloudburst event and a detailed the districts of Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, study was carried out by Ashrit (2010), Sravan et al. Pauri and Tehri. The holy shrine of Kedarnath was (2012) and Thayyen et al. (2013). However, the June the scene of maximum destruction. As a first step 2013 heavy rainfall event that occured in the holy towards the synoptic analysis of the event along pilgrim area Kedarnath ceased thousands of lives with the prediction of such extreme events numer- and caused catastrophic damage due to landslides, ically, this paper makes an effort to simulate the debris flow and extensive flooding. Also, this ex- event on 16 June 2013, so as to capture the quan- treme rainfall event occurred for the first time titative precipitation associated with this event. in the month of June and extended the entire The methodology and data used is provided in Uttarakhand. Because of the lack of vegetation and section 2. The results and discussion describing the higher friction over terrain slopes, the rainwater synoptic features as well as the model simulated along with the rocks and mud gushed through the results are presented in section 3, followed by populated areas and caused heavy loss of human conclusions in section 4. life and property. Joseph et al. (2014) studied the basis of heavy rainfall events of Uttarakhand in the perspective of large scale monsoon and suggested 2. Data and methodology that the monsoonal low pressure system enhances the low-level convergence with excessive moisture There is no adequate technique to predict the heavy interacting with strong upper-level divergence pro- rainfall event in the complex mountainous region duced through mid-latitude westerly trough that due to coarse resolution of the meteorological data augmented the monsoonal heavy rainfall in the network. Numerical weather prediction models often orographic region. The study also examines the fail to simulate and predict these types of events extended range prediction of the event through due to the limitations of the upper atmospheric coupled general circulation model CFSv2 and sug- profile data as well as a high resolution data net- gested that CFS model could predict the event 10– work over the region. Remote sensing data over the 12 days in advance, though the mid-latitude influ- regions also need to be of very high temporal and ence is not captured. Singh et al. (2014) examined spatial resolution to capture the characteristics of the dynamics of the June 2013 heavy rainfall event the event. As a first step towards the prediction of in the context of historical and pre-industrial cli- such extreme events, this study makes an effort to mate and suggested that the early arrival of mon- simulate the event on 16 June 2013 by using the soon brought heavy rainfall in the mountain region Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, where snow cover typically melts prior to the onset so as to capture the precipitation associated with of monsoon. The study also claims that the impact this localized mesoscale phenomenon. Snow and of anthropogenic forcing increased the likelihood of Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Chandi- such an event. Srinivasan (2013) hypothesized that garh, gives mountain weather forecast 6 days in a landslide caused by the heavy rainfall event might advance by using WRF model covering the snow- have blocked the Mandakini River which origi- bound mountainous areas of western and central nated from the Chorabari Glacier of the Himalayas Himalaya with a grid resolution of 9×9km.The and the dammed water behind the landslide might SASE has established an Automatic Weather Sta- have flushed in the early morning of 17 June. tion (AWS) just near to the Kedarnath temple so Dobhal et al. (2013) concluded that the heavy rain- as to monitor various atmospheric phenomena and fall during 15–17 June 2013, along with the melting give weather and avalanche forecast to the users, snow in the surrounding Chorabari Lake, washed mainly Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police off the banks of Mandakini River, causing massive (ITBP) deployed in those areas. However, due to devastation. The floods triggered landslides as a heavy rainfall, the AWS was badly affected and catalyst to damage structures, killing the trapped stopped disseminating data after 2000 hrs IST on people and caused vulnerability to properties. The 16 June 2013. There was no observational record present study on the simulation of a heavy rain- of precipitation over the study region, i.e., over fall event in Uttarakhand and more precisely sur- Kedarnath except that of Wadia Institute of Hima- rounding Kedarnath is a more concise numerical layan Geology. The AWS of Snow & Avalanche approach to predict the unprecedented heavy rain- Study Establishment which had been installed fall with a few presentations of synoptic features, just at the back side of the Kedarnath temple though a few synoptic studies have already been stopped dissemination of data after 2000 hrs IST carried out by Dobhal et al. (2013) and Dube et al. on 16 June 2013. Due to nonavailability of pre- (2013). cipitation sensor at the station, the data with Uttarakhand witnessed an intense heavy rainfall regard to observed precipitation in the area during event in the afternoon/wee hours of 16 June 2013, that period could not be recorded. However, the which resulted in heavy loss of lives and property in precipitation observation from the Meteorological A study on the heavy rainfall event around Kedarnath on 16 June 2013 1533 Department of Chandigarh gives a district-wise runat NCMRWF and their respective skills in pre- rainfall distribution. dicting high rainfall event associated with this event In this study, the high resolution non-hydrostatic is presented. Advanced Research WRF (ARW) mesoscale model (version 3.2.1) developed at National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is used to simulate 3. Results and discussion the heavy rainfall on 16 June 2013. It is a fully The synoptic features as well as numerical simula- compressible primitive equation model and versa- tion results of the Kedarnath heavy rainfall event tile for both research and operational purposes. In are presented in this section. the present study, a single domain with resolution of 3 km, keeping Kedarnath and its adjoining areas as the center is used. The configuration used to run 3.1 Synoptic features of the event the model is depicted in table 1. The performance The heavy rainfall event in mid-June 2013, cen- of mesoscale models depends on the quality, consis- tered on the north Indian state of Uttarakhand tency and representativeness of initial and lateral caused devastating flood and landslides which is boundary conditions.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Office of Nagar Panchayat Ukhimath
    OFFICE OF NAGAR PANCHAYAT UKHIMATH DETAIL PROJECT REPORT,OF RAJIV AWAS YOJNA,UKHIMATH DETAIL PROJECT REPORT OF RAJIV AWAS YOJNA FOR UKHIMATH RAY PROJECTS OF DISASTER AREA IN UTTARAKHAND PROPOSED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED UKIMATH IN UTTARAKHAND STATE Route Map Project Location 1.Ukhimath is a pilgrimage site in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, India.It is at an elevation of 1311 metres and at a distance of 41 km fromRudraprayag. During the winters, the idols from Kedarnath temple, and Madhyamaheshwar are brought to Ukhimath and worshipped there for six months. 2.Ukhimath can be used as center destination for visiting different places located nearby, i.e. Madhmaheshwar (Second kedar),Tungnath ji (Third kedar) and Deoria Tal(natural fresh water lake) and many other picturesque places. 3.One of the town severely affected by water induced disaster occurred in 2013. 4. Population as per census 2011 :3125 5.Total area: 2.78263 sq.km RAY INTERVENTION 1. INTERVENTION : In-Situ Housing 2. WARD SPECIFIC : 4 Ward Areas 3. WARD AREAS : Identified by UKHIMATH NAGAR PANCHAYAT 4.OWNERSHIP OF LAND : BENEFICIARY OWNED 5. SLUM FREE CITY PLAN OF ACTION : COMPLIED Project Overview Information about the project area: Ukhimath •Nagar Panchayat Ukhimath created in 2013 •Population as per census 2011 :3125 •Mode of earning in town: :Service/Business/Labour Ward Population and area detail s.no Ward no Wards name Population Area(sq. km) 1 1 Gandhinagar 785 0.49125 2 2 Udaipur 760 0.5132 3 3 Omkareshwar 790 1.18977 4 4 Bhatteshwar 780 0.58841 Total 3125 2.78263
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents Acknowledgements xi Foreword xii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY XIV II. INTRODUCTION 20 A. The Context of the SoE Process 20 B. Objectives of an SoE 21 C. The SoE for Uttaranchal 22 D. Developing the framework for the SoE reporting 22 Identification of priorities 24 Data collection Process 24 Organization of themes 25 III. FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 34 A. Introduction 34 B. Driving forces and pressures 35 Liberalization 35 The 1962 War with China 39 Political and administrative convenience 40 C. Millennium Eco System Assessment 42 D. Overall Status 44 E. State 44 F. Environments of Concern 45 Land and the People 45 Forests and biodiversity 45 Agriculture 46 Water 46 Energy 46 Urbanization 46 Disasters 47 Industry 47 Transport 47 Tourism 47 G. Significant Environmental Issues 47 Nature Determined Environmental Fragility 48 Inappropriate Development Regimes 49 Lack of Mainstream Concern as Perceived by Communities 49 Uttaranchal SoE November 2004 Responses: Which Way Ahead? 50 H. State Environment Policy 51 Institutional arrangements 51 Issues in present arrangements 53 Clean Production & development 54 Decentralization 63 IV. LAND AND PEOPLE 65 A. Introduction 65 B. Geological Setting and Physiography 65 C. Drainage 69 D. Land Resources 72 E. Soils 73 F. Demographical details 74 Decadal Population growth 75 Sex Ratio 75 Population Density 76 Literacy 77 Remoteness and Isolation 77 G. Rural & Urban Population 77 H. Caste Stratification of Garhwalis and Kumaonis 78 Tribal communities 79 I. Localities in Uttaranchal 79 J. Livelihoods 82 K. Women of Uttaranchal 84 Increased workload on women – Case Study from Pindar Valley 84 L.
    [Show full text]
  • Study of Glaciers in Himalaya (IHR): Observations and Assessments (Himalayan Glaciological Programme)
    Study of Glaciers in Himalaya (IHR): Observations and Assessments (Himalayan Glaciological Programme) Dwarika P. DOBHAL dobhal.dp@gmail,com National Correspondent, India for WGMS Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (An Autonomous Institute of DST, Govt. of India) Dehra Dun The Himalaya Structurally, Geologically, Ecologically and Climatically the most Diverse Region on Earth. 1. Greater Himalaya 2. Lesser Himalaya 3. Shivalik 1 2 I N D I A 3 Greater Himalaya Lesser Himalaya Shivalik Tropical Temperate Alpine Altitude Upto 1300 m a.s.l 1300 m ‐ < 3500 m a.s.l. >3500 m a.s.l. Precipitation Rainfall (1000‐2500 mm) Rainfall (1000‐1500 mm) Snowfall Temperature 20 °C –30 °C 10 °C –20 °C 5 °C –10 °C Characteristics Broad Leaved/swamp Flora Coniferous Species Snow & Glaciers Glacier System‐Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) Number of Glaciers: 9575 Glacierized area : ~ 37466km2 Jammu & Kashmir Himachal Uttarakhand Sikkim INDIA Arunachal State Glaciers Area (Km2)Average Size (Km2)Glacier (%) Jammu & Kashmir 5262 29163 10. 24 61.8 Himachal Pradesh 2735 4516 3.35 8.1 Uttarakhand 968 2857 3. 87 18.1 Sikkim 449 706 1.50 8.7 Arunachal Pradesh 162 223 1.40 3.2 (Raina and Srivastava, 2008) Distribution of Glaciers number, Ice Volume and Area 70.00 30.00 66.42% Glaciers no.% Area % 26.59% 60.00 Ice Volume % 25.00 50.00 20.00 18.39% 40.00 (%) no. (%) 15.00 12.93% 30.00 12.25% 26.14% 27.49% Volume 9.21% 10.00 20.00 Glaciers 6.86% 12.82% 14.33% 5.53% 13.61% Glaciers 4.04% 4.18% 5.00 10.00 9.44% 6.87% 6.88% 4.27% 4.12% 4.45% 1.16% 0.49% 0.41% 0.57% 0.21% 0.12%
    [Show full text]
  • Chardham Yatra 2020
    CHAR DHAM YATRA 2020 Karnali Excursions Nepal 1 ç Om Namah Shivaya CHARDHAM YATRA 2020 Karnali Excursions, Nepal www.karnaliexcursions.com CHAR DHAM YATRA 2020 Karnali Excursions Nepal 2 Fixed Departure Dates Starts in Delhi Ends in Delhi 1. 14 Sept, 2020 28 Sept, 2020 2. 21 Sept, 2020 5 Oct, 2020 3. 28 Sept, 2020 12 Oct, 2020 India is a big subject, with a diversity of culture of unfathomable depth, and a long Yatra continuum of history. India offers endless opportunities to accumulate experiences Overview: and memories for a lifetime. Since very ancient >> times, participating in the Chardham Yatra has been held in the highest regard throughout the length and breadth of India. The Indian Garhwal Himalayas are known as Dev-Bhoomi, the ‘Abode of the Gods’. Here is the source of India’s Holy River Ganges. The Ganges, starting as a small glacial stream in Gangotri and eventually travelling the length and breadth of India, nourishing her people and sustaining a continuum of the world’s most ancient Hindu Culture. In the Indian Garhwal Himalayas lies the Char Dham, 4 of Hinduism’s most holy places of pilgrimage, nestled in the high valleys of the Himalayan Mountains. Wearing the Himalayas like a crown, India is a land of amazing diversity. Home to more than a billion people, we will find in India an endless storehouse of culture and tradition amidst all the development of the 21st century! CHAR DHAM YATRA 2020 Karnali Excursions Nepal 3 • A complete darshan of Char Dham: Yamunotri, Trip Gangotri, Kedharnath and Badrinath.
    [Show full text]
  • Badrinath-Kedarnath-By-Helicopter-Do
    LUXURY CHARDHAM HELICOPTER SERVICES INDIA DO DHAM YATRA BY HELICOPTER PACKAGE – BADRINATH KEDARNATH YATRA Home Send your enquiry on Whatsapp No.:- 9837937948 For Urgent reply. Email us - [email protected] LUXURY Charter Service India DO DHAM YATRA BY HELICOPTER PACKAGE • Rs. 90,000/- Per Person Same Day • Rs. 110,000/- Per Person Overnight Stay • Maximum 5/6 Passengers in 1 Helicopter (Subject to weight not exceeding 400 kgs). Route Map : Dehradun - Kedarnath – Badrinath – Dehradun (Subject to weather conditions) Send your enquiry on Whatsapp No.:- 9837937948 For Urgent reply. Email us - [email protected] ITINERARY DAY 1 • 06:00hrs - Departure from Dehradun Sahastradhara heliport. • 07:00hrs - Arrival at Guptkashi/Phata, Due to Government regulation, you will have to change helicopter. Upon arrival at Kedarnath Dham, you will be met by our ground personnel, who will escort you to the holy shrine. We will offer V.I.P darshan slips of Kedarnath temple so you can avoid the long queue and finish darshan quickly. • 09:00hrs - Depart from Shri Kedarnath Dham by Helicopter to change helicopter at Guptkashi/Phata for Badrinath Dham. • 10:00hrs - Arrival at Badrinath, upon arrival you will be provided a car which will take you to Badrinath Temple where you will perform darshan following which you head back to the Helipad in the same car. • 12:40hrs - Departure from Badrinath by Helicopter • 13:30hrs - Arrival at Dehradun (Sahastradhara Helipad) DAY 2 With Stay in Badrinath • Refresh yourself with a comfortable Night Stay with a complimentary dinner in a Deluxe Hotel at Badrinath • 06:00hrs Return to Dehradun. Arrived at Helipad Dehradun further onwards Journey.
    [Show full text]
  • ICPR Fax: 0522-2392636 Phone No
    Gram : ICPR Fax: 0522-2392636 Phone No. 0522-2392636 E-Mail : [email protected] Central Library Accession Register 3/9,Vipul Khand,Gomti Nagar Lucknow - 226010 U.P Acc. No. Title Author Publisher Year 0001 The Critic As Leavis,F R Chatto & Windus,London 1982 Anti-philosopher 2 Philosophy, Literature Nasir,S H Jeddah, Hodder & Stoughton,- 1982 And Fine Arts 3 Charector of Mind Mcginn,Colin Oxford Uni Press,- 1982 4 Claim of Reason Cavell,Stanley Oxford Uni Press,- 1979 0004 The Claim of Reason Cavell,Stanley Oxford Uni Press , Delhi,, 1979 5 ISLAM THE IDEA DIGWY,EL;Y,S Oxford & IBH Pub,N.Delhi 1982 RELIGION 6 Selfless Persons Collins,Steven Cambridge University Press,- 1982 7 Thought And Action Hampshire,Stuart Chatto & Windus,London 1982 8 Pluto's Republic Medawar,Perer Oxford Uni Press,- 1982 9 Acomparative Study Tambyah,T I Indian Book Gallery,Delhi 1983 Of hinduism, Budhism 10 The Moral Prism Emmet,Dorothy Macmillan,London 1979 11 Dictionary Of Islam Hughes,T P Cosmo Publication,New Delhi 1982 12 The Mythology Of Bailey,Grey Oxford Uni Press,- 1983 Brahma 13 Identity And Essence Brody,Baruch A Princeton University Press,Princeton And Oxford 1980 14 The Greeks On Taylor,C C.w.;Gosling,J C.b. Clarendon Press,Oxford 1982 Pleasure 15 The Varieties of Gareth,Evans Oxford U Press,London 1982 Reference 16 Concept of Indentity Hirsch,Eli Oxford University Press,New York 1982 17 Essays On Bentham Hart,H L.a. Clarendon Press,Oxford 1982 18 Marxism And Law Collins,Hugh Clarendon Press,Oxford 1982 19 Montaigne : Essays Maclean,Ian;Mefarlane,I D Clarendon Press,Oxford 1982 On Memory of Richard Sayce 20 Legal Right And Maccormick,Neil Clarendon Press,Oxford 1982 Social Democracy:Essays In Legal And Political Philosophy 21 Mar'x Social Theory Carver,Tarrell Oxford Uni Press,- 1982 22 The Marxist Hudson,Wayne Macmillan,London 1982 Philosophy Of Ernst Bloch 23 Basic Problems of Heidegger,Martin Indiana University Press,Bloomington 1982 Phenomenology 24 In Search of The Erasmus,Charles J The Free Press,London 1977 Common Good:Utopian Experiments Past And Future Acc.
    [Show full text]
  • Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Pt.Deendayal Upadhaya Paryatan Bhawan Near ONGC Helipad, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001
    Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Pt.Deendayal Upadhaya Paryatan Bhawan Near ONGC Helipad, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001. Email: [email protected]; Tel: +91-135 255 9987, Fax: +91-135 – 2559988 DO DHAM YATRA Destinations: Haridwar, Rudraprayag, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Rishikesh Duration: 6 nights, 5 days Distance: 800 km from Dehradun For group and family Experience: Trekking Budget: Approx INR 25,000 per person Start Day 01 DEHRADUN TO RUDRAPRAYAG Start early from Dehradun as this will be a long drive. But the roads are good and very scenic. On the way you can stop at Devprayag and Srinagar. Once you reach Rudraprayag, check into your hotel. You can use the evening to explore this pretty town that stands at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. It is also one of the Panch Prayags, or five confluences of Alaknanda river. Road: Dehradun to Rudraprayag is around 200 km and it generally takes about 7 hours to reach. There are several lookout points on the way, where you can stop for admiring the landscape. Rail: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh on the New Delhi-Dehradun railway line. Air: The nearest airport from Rudraprayag is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, roughly 179 km away. Day 02 RUDRAPRAYAG TO KEDARNATH The next morning after breakfast visit Rudranath temple and the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, then start your drive towards Gauri Kund, around 40 km away. Once you reach Gauri Kund, start the 14-km trek to Kedarnath. You can also ride a palanquin or a pony. Once in Kedarnath, check into the hotel.
    [Show full text]
  • Mountain, Water, Rock
    Introduction In the Direction of Kedar When one had almost reached the Hindu shrine of Kedarnath, there used to be a point along the footpath following the Mandakini River where, in good weather, the top of the temple came into view against the backdrop of a bright, wide Himalayan panorama. In the related languages of Hindi and Garhwali, such vantage points bear the title of “Sight-of-God” (Hindi: devdarshini, deodekhni). Devdarshini is the point from which you are first able to glimpse the deity of a particular place, in this case Shiva in his Kedarnath form. Before June of 2013, devdarshini was located above the western bank of the Mandakini River, about two kilometers from the temple and twelve kilometers from the beginning of the footpath in the village of Gaurikund. The temple of Kedarnath lies on the valley floor at almost 3,600 meters above sea level, enfolded on three sides by mountains. Almost all travelers to Kedarnath, from perennial residents to first-time visitors to non-Indian regular visitors such as myself, used to stop at devdarshini to catch their breath, encounter the view, and take stock of the place where they were about to arrive. Devdarshini often evokes a strong response. I once spoke with a woman from the Indian state of Maharashtra who had come to Kedarnath seven times.1 She said that when she arrived at devdarshini she experienced what in Hindi is called sakshat darshan—a visual encounter with (or more technically a visual knowing of) the divine in its most true form.
    [Show full text]
  • National Geographic Traveller INDIA 97 the Destination Uttarakhand
    THE DESTINATION UTTARAKHAND The climb towards Mayali Pass, a 16,400-high crossing A HYMN connecting Bhilangana and Mandakini valleys, is a vision in white. It is the third mountain crossing on the challenging Auden’s Col trek that begins in Gangotri and ends at FOR THE Kedarnath, in Uttarakhand. NON- BELIEVER Lessons in belief and beauty on an arduous Himalayan trek across Auden’s Col in Uttarakhand TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHS BY NEELIMA VALLANGI MAY 2018 | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER INDIA 97 THE DESTINATION UttARAKHAND An aura of despair hung inside the quivering tent where six of us were huddled late in the afternoon. A snowstorm raged on outside, in a desolate glacial valley surrounded by Himalayan peaks. A few kilometers ahead of us, obscured by the blizzard, lay Auden’s Col, a daunting mountain pass deep in the hallowed mountains of Uttarakhand. Suddenly, one of our guides, Happy Negi, peeked into our tent, and offered hot halwa as prasad with a reassuring smile, unperturbed by the lashing snow and freezing winds. Our frayed nerves began to calm down; after all, these prayers had worked so well over the past six days. Last June six others and I were attempting to cross the col, an 18,000-foot saddle between the Gangotri and Jogin peaks that provides a rare passage from Gangotri to Kedarnath. Owing to Sunsets are stunning at The triangular peak the tough terrain and a long trudge across a crevasse-ridden the Kedarkhadak campsite of Thalay Sagar in Kedarganga valley. looms over Kedartal. glacier, few have attempted the trek to this pass after it was first crossed in 1939 by John Bicknell Auden, an English geologist and explorer then working with Geological Survey of India.
    [Show full text]
  • KEDARNATH : the ABODE of SHIV by Biju Negi [email protected] Traveller, Writer and Photographer Dehradun, India
    KEDARNATH : THE ABODE OF SHIV By Biju Negi [email protected] Traveller, Writer and Photographer Dehradun, India The trek to Kedarnath begins at Gaurikund. Ahead lie 14 km over a steadily rising mountain terrain. I look forward to the next five-seven hours. There are other people too on the train. Many are on foot, some on ponies and a few – infants, the old and the infirm – are being carried in kandi (a cut basket – as backpack) and daandi (a sort of palanquin). I’m not in any particular hurry, and walk with slow, measured steps. I know how easy it can be to break into a brisk walk at the beginning of the journey, or after short rests. But walking in the mountains is best done in a slow, rhythmic, almost monotonous motion. I have to last out fourteen kilometres and do not wish to unnecessary over-exert and tire myself. “Kedarnath ki Jai”, “Jai Kedar”, “Kedr Baba ki Jai” – these variations of salutation are what one keeps hearing, and even find yourself exchanging with one and sundry en route – words as a form of greeting, words one urges oneself and others with when the going gets tough and the spirits begin to fail, words we utter in happy exultation at the sight of a cataract, a pretty bird, the glide of a vulture, a happy countenance. It also helps me get my breath back when I feel fatigued. The path lies entirely along the right bank of the river Mandakini, never too far from the river or its sound.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a Temperate Forest Ecosystem, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Indian Himalayan Region
    p-ISSN: 0972-6268 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology (Print copies up to 2016) Vol. 19 No. 3 pp.1133-1140 2020 An International Quarterly Scientific Journal e-ISSN: 2395-3454 Original Research Paper Originalhttps://doi.org/10.46488/NEPT.2020.v19i03.025 Research Paper Open Access Journal Diversity of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a Temperate Forest Ecosystem, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Indian Himalayan Region M. K. Arya†, A. Verma and P. Tamta Insect Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, D.S B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, Uttarakhand, India †Corresponding author: M. K. Arya; [email protected] ABSTRACT Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech. Website: www.neptjournal.com Observational studies aiming to elucidate the differences in butterfly fauna along altitudinal gradients Received: 30-09-2019 in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary were carried out during 2014-2015. The study revealed a total of 2591 Revised: 27-10-2019 individuals belonging to 46 species and 35 genera under six families of butterflies. Four species under Accepted: 11-12-2019 legal protection were also recorded. Family Nymphalidae was the most dominant with 22 species followed by Pieridae (12 species), Lycaenidae (4 species), Papilionidae, Riodinidae (3 species each) Key Words: and Hesperiidae (2 species). Higher values of species richness, abundance and diversity were Diversity of butterflies recorded for transects at the low altitudinal site. Species such as Aglais caschmirensis (Fruhstorfer), Conservation Pieris canidia indica Evans, Pieris brassicae Linnaeus and Byasa polyeuctes letincius (Fruhstorfer) Forest ecosystem were most abundant, while Dodona ouida Hewitson, Udara dilectus Moore, Aulocera padama Kollar, Protected area Talicada nyseus (Guérin-Méneville) and Argynnis childreni (Gray) accounting for 1.38% of the total individuals of butterflies, were least abundant species during the study period.
    [Show full text]
  • Himalayan Tsunami: Disaster Natural but Damage Man-Made Dr
    International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach and Studies ISSN NO:: 2348 – 537X Himalayan Tsunami: Disaster Natural But Damage Man-Made Dr. Ramesh Chand Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Govt. College Dharampur, Mandi (H.P.) ABSTRACT: Uttarakhand the hill state in the Himalayan range is so far the worst hit by the extreme rains that struck northern India on June 16-17 this year. Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc on the region because of the fragile nature of the Himalayan range and poor soil stability in its steep slopes. But it is human-induced factors that have compounded the scale of the disaster. The indiscriminate cutting of mountain slopes for construction of buildings had resulted in filling of the flood plains. Unabated expansion of hydro-power projects and construction of roads to accommodate ever-increasing tourism, especially religious tourism, are major causes for the unprecedented scale of devastation. Every year, Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region receives pilgrims in thousands for Chhota Char Dham Yatra— Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It also receives heavy rains and suffers floods. But the loss the region has suffered this time is horrifying. Even though it cannot be said that this particular Himalayan Tsunami is caused by climate change, the link to this event and the growing trend of intense and extreme rain events is clear and undisputable. Climate change is caused by fossil fuel use and emissions, needed for economic growth. So, this disaster is natural but damage is man-made. Key Words: Devastation, Himalayan Tsunami Unabated, Religious Tourism, Unprecedented INTRODUCTION: 51 Uttarakhand the hill state in the Himalayan region is known as Devbhoomi, or the abode of the Gods, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs alike (Semwal, 2010).
    [Show full text]