Dr Neeraj Sharma
While the horrific images of the Dharali devastation in Uttarakhand still lingered, Chasoti in Paddar was severely engulfed, and then Kathua, Doda, Reasi, Ramban and many other places as raging waters swept across the Jammu division and entire Himalayas, leaving hardly any mountain state untouched by the ferocious wrath of an angered nature.Yet, what followed was even more catastrophic, the floods of August 26, when heavy clouds descended with unrelenting force, leaving onlookers helpless as the entire Jammu division witnessed its heaviest ever 24-hour rainfall, an unprecedented 380 mm, causing immense loss of life and property. The scars of these tragedies remain vivid, leaving behind a chilling impression, as though the Gods upstairs seem angry with the mankind.Natural calamities have long been described as ‘Acts of God’,the events beyond human control. Yet, in the current context, we cannot ignore the role of human interference in amplifying these impacts. Over the past decade, the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have been grappling with a series of extreme events, with their frequency and intensity increasing each year. Who truly catalysed these furies? Are these humans, through their short-sighted choices, their arrogance toward nature, and their disregard for ecological balance?The answer is, Yes.
The havoc inflicted by incessant rains has forced us to confront a critical question, will such devastation be remembered merely as history, or destined to become a new normal? While not delving into the causes, since the region has already witnessed episodes of heavy rains and subsequent flooding in the past, the pressing question remains, why the losses today are far greater? Are these tragedies the human manifestations of poor planning, overexploitation, and disregard for nature, or mere the coincidences ?While the rains are natural, the floods, landslides, and widespread devastation they cause are often aggravated by human actions. What could once be seen as a passing natural disaster now often transforms into a full-scale humanitarian crisis, intensified by human negligence or ignorance. The visible losses, whether from the current flooding or the devastation inflicted a decade ago can largely be attributed to erratic planning. The memory of the furious 2014 floods still lingers, sending goosebumps, while standing as a haunting testament to the immense power of nature. Sadly, human memory is often short-lived. Once again, we have started concreting the floodplains, wilfully ignoring the hard-earned lessons of the past, whether in Jammu or Srinagar. Where, indeed, are the green spaces left in our cities to soak in the rains and replenish the very aquifers we are relentlessly depleting?While older residential colonies remain persistently vulnerable, newly developed areas also face temporary exposure, sometimes devastating too. This uneven vulnerability underscores the need for integrated planning that both strengthens older settlements and ensures sustainable, resilient development of new ones. Same holds true for many towns, particularly those built along riverbanks or on the alluvial fans, where slush and debris often tear through structures raised over natural drainage routes. Let us acknowledge that our rivers and streams have been recklessly altered. Natural drainages have been squeezed for construction, banks encroached upon by urban expansion, beds over-mined for sand and gravel, courses diverted or narrowed, and the flows dammed and disrupted. These intrusions have weakened the resilience of these waterways, turning them from life-giving systems into ticking disasters. Today, most of our towns are precariously perched on these very time bombs, awaiting the next trigger, the hilly towns being the most vulnerable. Let us not forget that water always finds its way, no matter what obstructions humans place in its path.
Another cause of growing concern is the rising number of pilgrimage-related calamities across the country, particularly in the fragile Himalayan states. The surge in unregulated pilgrim influx, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and ecological strain, has amplified the risks, often turning sacred journeys into the sites of tragedy. This stems from overexploiting these destinations beyond their carrying capacities, whether through infrastructure, transport network, or overwhelming human flux. <
Once the threshold is breached, the consequences are far-reaching, as witnessed in the two recent events that claimed many precious lives in a span of just a fortnight in Jammu division.Given that religious affinities consistently draw large numbers of devotees, all pilgrimage destinations, both permanent and temporary, require a careful and coordinated planning, whether in regulating the numbers of devotees or developing new facilities. This must be undertaken with careful consideration of location, as the most frequently visited pilgrimage sites across Jammu division are ecologically fragile and environmentally sensitive. At the same time, pilgrims too have certain duties and responsibilities, discipline being paramount.They must adhere to established guidelines and regulations. Moreover, as sacred pilgrimages are gradually transforming into bustling tourism hubs, the influx of devotees and visitors add to the increased vulnerability.
Now that losses have been incurred, lives lost, property damaged, and a deep fear psychosis instilled, the pressing question remains, what next? Do we just sit back and wait for the next disaster to strike? Shall we continue to live with short-term memory and myopic vision, or we finally pause, reflect, and commit ourselves to meaningful remedies ?While the government strives to do its part, citizens too must acknowledge their responsibilities, both as individuals and as a collective society.
We must appreciate how swiftly the government machinery was activated in that hour of distress, where even the saviours themselves stood equally exposed to the very risks they were striving to mitigate. Be it the civil administration, NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army, police, paramilitary forces, NGOs, social and religious organizations, or countless volunteers, the timely and well-coordinated efforts of all helped manage the crisis effectively, ensuring that the loss of lives remained minimal.
Though we have witnessed many such events in the past, let this be a wake-up call for everyone. What were once occasional phenomena have now become more extreme and frequent, with the human dimension only exacerbating these impacts far beyond measure.It is time for society, policymakers, and communities alike to reflect deeply. The question is not whether such events will occur again, but whether we will continue to let human arrogance transform natural phenomena into recurring catastrophes.The way forward lies in cohesive planning, collective responsibility, and moving beyond the ‘me-first or my first’ syndrome. Let us give nature the respect it deserves. No matter how superior humanity may consider itself, nature will always remain supreme. Now this is in our interest to let it remain calm and undisturbed or otherwise.
(The author works as Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu)
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