Srinagar, Feb. 6 -- The year 2024 saw several instances of devastating consequences of hydro-meteorological disasters, a term encompassing natural calamities triggered by water and weather phenomena such as floods, landslides, cloudbursts, or extreme snow or rainfall. These events, intensified by the region's fragile Himalayan ecology and shifting climatic patterns, led to profound human, economic, and environmental losses. Official data presented in the Lok Sabha revealed the scale of the tragedy: 28 lives lost, 73 cattle perished, and 1,069 houses or huts damaged. Additionally, agricultural land spanning 0.02 lakh hectares-critical for livelihoods in the agrarian economy-was rendered unusable. The disaster's impact transcended statistic...