India, Aug. 13 -- The August 5 flash floods, which ravaged Dharali in Uttarakhand and buried parts of the area under 15 to 20 metres of debris and left scores missing, were a disaster foretold as the authorities ignored repeated scientific warnings, violated eco-sensitive zone norms, and pushed unscientific road expansion in a geologically fragile zone, two environmental experts have said in an analysis.

Environmentalist Hemant Dhyani said the Kheer Ganga stream, barely seven kilometres long but fed by a cirque glacier, unleashed an unprecedented debris flow after being suddenly activated during heavy rain. "Three glacial-fed streams, opposite Sukhi Top, opposite Harsil, and at Dharali, swelled simultaneously between 1pm and 3pm on Augus...