6 AVALANCHE. Introduction. Avalanche Incidents in Afghanistan During Chapter

Transcription

1 80 SOUTH ASIAN DISASTER REPORT 2008 Chapter 6 AVALANCHE Introduction Snow avalanches are one of the major geological hazards in the Himalayan-Hindukush belt of South Asia causing enormous damage to life and property particularly in areas close to the snowline. Mountainous regions of five countries of the SAARC, viz., Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan are severely affected by avalanches in winter months. On a global scale, the South Asian region is one of the hot spots of avalanches and associated slope failure phenomena. A snow avalanche is defined as a fast, down-slope moving mass of snow along-with associated debris which is capable of damaging most manmade structures such as highways, railways, houses, etc. In general, three different types of avalanches occur: (a) when the weight of the snowpack exceeds the shear strength within it and the mass of snow slides down slope; (b) when a large slab of snow breaks free from the layers beneath and starts moving downward with a relatively high velocity it accounts for around 90 percent of avalanche-related fatalities; and (c) when a snowpack becomes saturated with water and tends to spread out from a point. Some of the prominent avalanche events which occurred in the SAARC region during 2008 are described as follows. Information about avalanche events was collected from various internet and newspaper sources still there are chances that some of the unreported avalanche incidences might have been missed largely due to under reporting of such events. Avalanche Incidents in Afghanistan During 2008 In 2008, Afghanistan witnessed one of the severest weather conditions in the last 30 years. This caused huge fatalities, hardships and major accessibility problems in the Western mountainous region, due to unusually heavy snowfall and avalanches. According to the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), winter conditions including snow avalanches claimed over 800 human lives till mid February 2008 in the four provinces of Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor. 1 Additionally a total of 134,693 livestock lives were also lost. More than 730 houses were reported to be damaged. Thousands of people in other parts of Afghanistan also lost their property due to the heavy snow and severe cold, and lived in freezing conditions (Figure 6.1). In another isolated avalanche incident on 27 March 2008, in the Raghistan district of northern Badakhshan province, 12 persons were killed and many more were injured. 3 The joint rescue team including personnel from the north-eastern command and Badakhshan police headquarters rescued

2 AVALANCHE 81 Figure 6.1: The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) trained staff carrying out registration of affected beneficiaries in Enjel district, Herat Province 2 survivors and recovered dead bodies from the snow. This incident took place in a remote area making rescue operations very difficult. Due to heavy snowfall, the roads were blocked and relief materials had to be sent by helicopters. Most of the roads of the region are closed during peak winter and opened only towards latter part of February. It severely affects the local economy, food and medicine supplies. Many people develop hyperthermia and respiratory problems. As reported by the Ministry of Pubic Heath about 170,000 patients with pneumonia and other acute respiratory infections were treated at health care centres across Afghanistan. 1 Relief operations were carried out by both national and international organisations. At the national level, the Social Protection Unit of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), as part of the National Emergency Response Commission, coordinated relief and aid activities. The MRRD s relief distribution efforts were implemented in close cooperation with the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and District Development Assemblies (DDAs) of the affected areas. Table 6.1: Need assessment for the severely affected provinces Province Families in need of assistance Most affected district Families in need of assistance in that district Badghis 10,452 Abkamari 2,300 Farah 6,021 Farah Centrs 700 Ghor 3,700 Chegeharan 800 Herat 29,906 Guran 6,500

3 82 SOUTH ASIAN DISASTER REPORT 2008 Need assessment was carried out by provincial governments in all the four severely affected provinces (Table 6.1). 1 A joint task force comprising provincial authorities, ANDMA, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), World Food Programme (WFP) and ARCS was set up under the leadership of the Deputy Governor of Herat to oversee relief and rehabilitation work of MRRD which was focussed on the following five areas 1 : The clearance of snow from the roads was of utmost importance for improving accessibility of the rural people to basic facilities like markets, schools and health centres. More than 4,000 km of roads were cleared of snow by mid of February. To tackle the problem of food shortages caused by severe winter conditions, a food for work programme was launched with the cooperation of WFP. About 6,574 metric tonnes (MT) of food items were distributed through 587 projects in 294 districts covering every province of the country. These projects included canal clearing, digging of wells, construction of water reservoirs, etc. More than 3,200 destitute families who lost their homes were provided with tents, blankets, etc. After winter, the onset of spring was expected to bring severe flooding in many parts of the country adding to the difficulties of the affected communities. Therefore, the government had surveyed and identified high risk areas in 25 provinces and assessments were made for the requirement of gabions and sandbags to mitigate flood disasters. Another challenging responsibility of the government was to rehabilitate people displaced by the severe weather conditions. Such people were provided necessary assistance for returning back to their homes. This operation was coordinated by the Reintegration Unit of the MRRD with the help of UNHCR and Ministry of Refugees. Avalanche Incidents in India During 2008 Catastrophic snowstorm and avalanches played havoc in the Himalayan State of Jammu and Kashmir during the first half of February More than 30 persons were killed in avalanches during 8-9 February 2008 particularly in Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of the state. 4 Many persons from avalanche prone areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts were evacuated to safer places. In Dhan Matra village of Ramban district, six persons of a family were buried when an avalanche struck their house. The district administration immediately deployed rescue teams and simultaneously, a red alert was declared in many avalanche prone areas (Figure 6.2). 5 The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for nearly six days (Figure 6.3). In Doda district, due to the fear of avalanches the entire population of Thandal village in Tehsil Bhagwa was shifted to safer areas. The local administration along with the army provided food and shelter to the affected families. Communication facilities of Kishtwar district were also severely disrupted due to avalanches. The only communication system available were wireless sets of the army and police. Due to the remoteness, the local administration found it difficult even to make a proper assessment of the loss of human lives and property. In Uttarakhand, a snow avalanche triggered from the Gomukh glacier area caused the death of one person and injured nine persons on 3 June Among the injured, one tourist was from the United Kingdom and three were from the United States. 6 The area attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year who visit the Gomukh glacier and the shrine at Gangotri. In another incident on 24 June 2008, an avalanche triggered by heavy precipitation near the Hemkund Sahib shrine in Rudraprayag district of Uttrakhand killed six pilgrims on the spot and injured more than a dozen.

4 AVALANCHE 83 Figure 6.2: People stranded on the snow covered Srinagar-Jammu National Highway 5 Figure 6.3: A view of the snow coverd Srinagar-Jammu National Highway The local administration rescued the injured persons and shifted them to Ganghria base hospital for treatment. It is important to note that most of the transportation of either the sick or injured persons or materials has to be carried out by trekking routes as there are no motorable roads to Hemkund Sahib. In another event on 21 September 2008, three persons were killed in a snow storm and another 37 persons were rescued from Kalindi-Badrinath track in the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand.7 In Himachal Pradesh on 22 September 2008, an avalanche triggered from the snow covered peaks wrecked havoc along the Manali-Leh Highway in Mandi district by killing seven persons and twelve persons went missing. In a quick response, hundreds of stranded persons were rescued from the highway. It is important to know that Manali-Leh highway is strategically very important and at many places passes through avalanche/landslide susceptible zones. Therefore, there is an urgent need for remedial measures and preparedness to minimise loss (life and property) and traffic disruption. In another fatal incident in Jammu and Kashmir on 18 November 2008, six army personnel were killed and one went missing when an avalanche hit the Gurej sector.8 In general, three states of India namely Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand encompassing vast stretches of the western Himalaya are affected by snow avalanche related hazards, thereby making it imperative that a comprehensive avalanche hazard mitigation programme is initiated to address problems of such a large geographical area. Avalanche Incidents in Pakistan During 2008 During 2008 many avalanche incidents were reported from Pakistan.9,10,11 Seven persons belonging to Chitral Scouts were killed on 8 January 2008 near Lowari tunnel, which is an 8.6 km long tunnel

5 84 SOUTH ASIAN DISASTER REPORT 2008 located in the NWFP province of Pakistan between Dir and Chitral districts. Timely rescue efforts by police and Frontier Constabulary personnel saved many lives. 9 Rescue work was very difficult due to closure of roads and inclement weather. Local officials had demanded the deployment of flights for the rescue operations as this area is very inaccessible by surface transport as most of the higher reaches are covered under snow. In another incident on 7 February 2008, three persons were killed in a snow avalanche at Doonga Gali in the Galyat area of Murree hills. 10 The snow-slide occurred near Toheedabad Nullah and all the three victims were buried underneath. Villagers had rushed to the site and struggled throughout the night to retrieve the bodies. It was also suspected that 12 more missing persons had been buried under the snow and debris. The Muree hill region as such is very susceptible to landslides due to the fragile nature of rocks and steep slopes, and the problem of slope stability is further aggravated by snow avalanches in the winter months. In a major avalanche incidence, six students of a seminary were killed and four were injured on 6 April 2008, in the Kala Dhaka tribal area of Pakistan. 11 The students were returning home from a Seminary when an avalanche triggered by rain and snowfall hit them. The government announced a compensation of Rs. 100,000 for each family of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the injured. On 11 April 2008, one person was killed by an avalanche in the Ziarat Marble mountain area of Lakro tehsil. In one of the most tragic incidents on 4 August 2008, 11 persons were killed on their way to the K2 peak in Pakistan. The dead included: three Koreans, two Pakistanis, two Nepalese, one French, one Norwegian, one Serb and one Irish national. Two Dutch climbers with frostbite were rescued by helicopters from the mountainous area. The expedition was disrupted when a chunk of ice fell from the mountain at a height of 8,211 m, breaking the rope connecting all the climbers. Avalanche Hazard Mitigation Snow avalanches have long posed hazards and risks to indigenous populations of the Hindukush- Himalaya mountains across five countries of South Asia. In recent years, land use intensification due to population growth, new transportation routes, hydropower projects, military activity and tourism have raised the levels of risk. In view of the intensive use of valley-bottom land which is affected by avalanches, a number of simple measures are currently being employed by the indigenous population to mitigate hazards. Out-migration during the winter months is one of the most important methods practiced in Uttarakhand Himalaya, Pakistan Himalaya 12 and many other regions. Apart from this simple adaptation strategy, other precautionary measures include: adherence to avalanche risk warnings; evaluation of existing tracks, terrain conditions in view of weather and snow dynamics; and monitoring of snow movements at higher elevations so that travelling may be avoided at lower elevations in case of an avalanche. Apart from various avalanche mitigation measures (structural) involving construction/installation of snow fencing, snow mounds, diversion barriers, plantations, blasting to reduce snow accumulation, attempts are being made to predict avalanche run out distances and velocities in complex mountain terrain and use such information as a non-structural mitigation measure. In this regard The Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, Davos, Switzerland (SLF) has developed a unified software package RAMMS (Rapid Mass Movements) 13 that combines three-dimensional process modules for snow avalanches, debris flows and rockfalls, together with a protect module (forest, dams, barriers) and a visualization module (GUI) in one tool. Because the system is linked with a GIS environment, RAMMS is a powerful, user-friendly tool for hazard mitigation studies in mountainous regions that are affected by gravity driven, rapid mass movements. Such kind of packages can provide valuable information for decision making related to mitigation measures.

6 Indian Initiatives to Mitigate Avalanche Risks AVALANCHE 85 In India, the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), is an unique agency dedicated to the study of avalanche related hazards and their mitigation. 14 It was set up in 1969 near Manali to combat the hazards of snow and avalanches not only to help the armed forces to fight and live in the mountains, but also to accelerate the pace of socio-economic growth of inaccessible snowbound hill regions. SASE was initially assigned the task of studying snow and avalanche problems along certain mountain highways in the snowbound belt of Indian Himalayas. This was subsequently extended to encompass various other roads. SASE s major activities and achievements include 14 : Avalanche mapping, in which a number of highways and lateral road axes in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been studied for identification and registration of snow avalanche paths, snow drift deposition and ice formation sites; frequency and severity of avalanche activity; and the extent up to which highways are affected. An avalanche atlas has been produced with details such as frequency of occurrence of avalanches, magnitude of damage, proposed control measures, etc. Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) network has been established in high altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for acquiring uninterrupted snow and meteorological data. The data from all the stations are received at RDC SASE, Chandigarh by a state of the art digital earth receiving station. An observatory network has been set up for acquiring snow and meteorological data which aids in avalanche forecasting; high altitude manned observatories have been set up in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Avalanche forecasting programmes have been initiated which include: issuing of avalanche warning bulletins for generating awareness amongst the users and reduce casualty rates; snow bulletins for selected regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are given to the media and also broadcast on All India Radio (AIR); and maintenance and analysis of snow-meteorological data acquired through high-altitude observatories in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Avalanche control structures have been designed and executed at different avalanche hazard zones. These include formation zone structures like snow rakes, snow bridges and snow nets; middle zone control structures like diversion dams; and retarding structures like mounds and catch dams in the runout zone. A snow gallery has also been designed to control one of the avalanches in middle zone in Himachal Pradesh. Artificial triggering of avalanches by different methods has been experimented and the methodology for De-icing of roads has been developed. It has carried out snow hydrology related studies for snow melt run-off predictions in the Beas Basin. Recent Initiatives: In a major initiative towards avalanche risk mitigation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 1 May 2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the installation of two Doppler Weather Radars in the Himalayan region for climate studies. 15 The indigenously developed Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) operate in the S band and are capable of monitoring clouds, precipitation systems and winds over large areas of more than 400 km from the radar location. DWR has the unique capability to continuously track and predict fast evolving weather systems such as thunderstorms, cyclones and cloudbursts.

7 86 SOUTH ASIAN DISASTER REPORT 2008 As per the MoU, two Doppler Weather Radars with advanced polarimetric capability will be established in the Himalayan region to monitor critical climate parameters including snowfall and help in improved weather forecasts for high altitude operations. The data from DWRs will be useful for the study of monsoon dynamics, avalanche prediction, detection of clear air turbulence and tracking of cloud bursts, hailstorms and other severe weather events. In view of the global warming scenario, it is of paramount importance to monitor the highly sensitive and climatically unique Himalayan terrain. ISRO is also installing two DWRs in the North East region of India to support disaster management by aiding early warning of floods, landslides and other severe weather events. The Indian Meteorological Department has already procured two such radars from Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) for installation at Kochi and Bhuj for cyclone monitoring. References 1 UN OCHA Report on Afghanistan, February 2008 (Winter Condition Situation Report: 7). 2 Relief Web, 3 The Frontier Post, 4 The Tribune, 5 The Hindu, 6 The Hindustan Times, 7 The Zee News, 8 News on AIR, 9 The Nation, 10 Dawn, 11 Daily Times, 12 De Scally, F.A. and Gardner, J.S., Characteristics and mitigation of the snow avalanche hazard in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan Himalaya. Natural Hazards. Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, pp