SOCIAL AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF FLASH FLOOD IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Flash flood is a torrent flooding of water in low lying areas. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with severe thunderstorm, by melting water from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snow fields, collapse of natural ice, debris dam, man made dams. In hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, flash flood is common during monsoon. One of the recent floods were in 2023, when major land slides, cloud bursts and wide spread flooding incidents happened. Portions of Himachal Pradesh received up to 16.54 inches (420 mm) in 24 hours. The intensity and duration of rain fall, steepness of watershed and stream gradients are the important factors in flash flooding. The floods led to closure of schools, disruption of flights and train operations in various parts of North India. Flash flood causes more damage as compared to ordinary floods. Co-ordination among different departments and stakeholders in the state and conducting post disaster needs assessment is very important for effective disaster response.