Shimla (HP), July 23 -- The Western Himalayas are today in the grip of an invisible but acute crisis. The valleys, once symbols of peace and natural balance, are now grappling with recurrent tragedies such as floods, landslides and cloudbursts. These disasters are no longer just 'natural' - they are a deep and complex interplay of climate change, sensitive geography, and anthropogenic interventions, says Rajan Sharma, Disaster Management Expert at the Deputy Commissioner's Office, Una.
He says that the root of the crisis lies in the uneven impact of global warming. Research indicates that the Himalayan region is warming at about twice the global average rate. This uneven warming is severely disrupting monsoon patterns. Moisture-rich winds ...