Nature in the month has unfortunately played spoil sport and brought havoc in the form of incessant rains, snowing, unpredicted and unprecedented floods as well as landslides in all these three countries and thus created disasters which made the people who stood alive in these floods worst sufferers. It is the nature’s fury which resulted into unwanted sufferings due to flash floods and flooding of the rivers and rivulets. But one thing must not lose sight of that nature cannot be so unkind and cruel with the people in these three countries as all the havoc in the form of floods and landslides occurred because of the insensitiveness and negligence of the humans who destroyed the ecological balance and natural environment and in fact the nature itself, cutting woods, shrinking rivers and also making other greedy advances to destroy nature and in turn the nature causes havoc through floods, landslides and the like.
In India, there are floods and landslides as well as untimely snowing at the end of the winter season in the first week of March in J&K, Himachal Pradesh and many places in Uttrakhand as incessant rains, floods and untimely snow caused havoc resulting in loss of life and property at a large scale. In early March 2025, heavy rains, snowfall and flash floods caused widespread disruption in Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. Avalanches, floods ravage HP as snowfall & rains wreak havoc. Heavy snowfall and incessant rains threw life out of gear in many parts of HP on Friday as over 200 roads remained blocked. While high hills received snowfall, the mid and low hills were lashed by heavy rainfall on Friday. Lahaul-Spiti district remained cut off from the rest of state and continued to receive snowfall for the third consecutive day. HP remained in the grip of severe weather conditions as landslides and heavy snowfall over the past two days have led to widespread disruptions. A total of 583 roads, including five national highways remained blocked as restoration efforts continue. The SDMA has intensified its efforts, even as the meteorological department has predicted another wet spell from March 3.
In Uttarakhand, 50 workers trapped in an avalanche in Chamoli district were rescued ,but four of them died on Saturday as rescuers raced against time to save remaining five. The strategic 270 Km Jammu-Srinagar National which was shut on Thursday evening following heavy rains and snowfall and multiple landslides in the Ramban district of J&K, was reopened for light motor vehicles. Parts of Delhi, Rajasthan and HP received showers on Saturday. Chamba, Chamoli in Uttrakhand witnessed heavy snowfall and rains thus putting the life there in disarray. The Kullu-Manali road was closed and traffic was diverted via Naggar. A landslide at Rokaru in the Kangra district damaged vehicles and endangered 12 houses. A landslide at Tohlu nullah blocked the Kartarpur-Manali national highway. Flash floods in Kullu’s lower areas swept away or trapped many vehicles in sludge. Flood water entered many houses in the surrounding areas of Shastri Nagar. The vegetable market in the nearby Bhuntar town was submerged in water. 279 water supply schemes were impacted in HP. Many regions were plunged into darkness. Landslides occurred in several parts of the state including near Banala in Mandi district and near Pandoh in same district. Avalanches occurred in many parts of the state, including near Tinku Nullah in kinnaur and Jangi Nullah. Uttrakhand’s many hilly areas were badly affected by the heavy snow, incessant rains which caused flash floods, lightening at several places, landslides etc .An avalanche trapped 50 workers in the Chamoli district, killing four of them. IMD issued an Orange alert on February 27 for heavy to very heavy precipitation in the Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, and Chamba districts warning of continued adverse weather conditions and the forecast proved right and led to havoc in several parts of HP.
Flash floods occurred in many places across Uttrakhand and caused havoc. It occurred in river Ganga due to the falling of a portion of Nanda Devi glacier in the river which exponentially increased the volume of water .Rishiganga meets Dhauli Ganga near Raini. So Dhauli Ganga also got flooded. With heavy rains battering parts of northern India, at least 14 people were killed and hundreds are stranded in Uttrakhand and HP. In Badrinath and kedarnath hills flash floods, snowing and torrential rains caused landslides, floods resulting into human sufferings. NDMA spokesperson Abdul Muhari said flash floods swept away villagers and vehicles passing through devastated villages and triggered a landslide that buried two houses. The disaster also destroyed two main bridges connecting villages in Pekalongan district.
Landslides, flash floods hit Indonesia’s Java island leaving 10 persons dead and missing two persons. The floods, landslides, incessant rains caused havoc in many parts of Indonesia and led to the sufferings of people and washing away of many vehicles. The scenes of flash floods and landslides were terrifying causing pain and material, human and animal loss. Spain is also experiencing worst flash floods and landslides causing untold sufferings to the people of many parts of the country ravaged by floods and incessant rains as well as flash floods. Spain has a history of flash floods, torrential rains and landslides and it happened in year 2024. Heavy rain sparked flood warnings across Western Spain, with significant flooding reported in the Valencian area and Castellon province. Torrential rainfall causing deadly flash floods has hit southern and eastern Spain in regions the Costa del Sol, where the city of Malaga is located. Heavy rain fall of over 150 mm in 24 hours caused severe flooding in parts of northern Spain ,prompting evacuations and dramatic rescues by helicopter.
All the above shows that in early March people in northern India including HP and Uttrakhand witnessed incessant rains, floods ,snow and landslides at many parts causing much suffering human and material loss. The situation in Indonesia and Spain is worse as several parts of these foreign countries experienced torrential rains and snow causing flash floods, landslides in several places causing loss of life and property. It seems that onset of March is very cruel to Spain and Indonesia.
(Vivek Koul)
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