Himalayan and Mountainous Regions The focus in the Himalayan region remains on the long-term vulnerability to disasters. Reports from the Down To Earth environmental journal and others highlight that the Himalayas have been in crisis almost daily in 2025, with more than 630 deaths recorded between January and August due to floods, landslides, and other events. The vulnerability is being driven by … [Read More...] about Disaster Update: October 14, 2025
Main Content
The Great Counting Contest
The government, reeling from the public outcry after the Mansa Devi incident, held a press conference. Santa and Banta watched as a senior, well-dressed official stood at a podium, flanked by charts and logos. He spoke with an air of confident authority about the "robust and foolproof" measures for the Char Dham Yatra. "We have implemented a state-of-the-art pilgrim registration system," the … [Read More...] about The Great Counting Contest
Disaster Update: October 13, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 13 अक्टूबर 2025 (अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय आपदा जोखिम न्यूनीकरण दिवस) और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Disaster Updates: October 11-12, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 12 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं कल व आज (11 व 12 अक्टूबर 2025) घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Banta’s Buried Treasure and the Resilient Disco
A story about a man who thinks the best disaster plan is a shovel, and the friend who has to explain that you can’t dance away an earthquake. Banta declared his disaster plan: “I’ve buried my life savings in the backyard!” Santa sighed, “That’s not a plan, Banta. That’s a treasure map for the local mice.”
Disaster Update: October 10, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 10 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Disaster Update: October 9, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 9 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
The WhatsApp First Responder and the Vetiver Army
“We are not helpless victims,” Banta declared. “We are the First Responders. Today, we will raise our own army: The WhatsApp First Responders and the Vetiver Army.”
The Three Unlucky Cousins
It was a visit from three very dangerous cousins, Ignored Warning, Poor Planning, and No Cooperation and not mere bad luck that caused the recent Himalayan disaster.
Disaster Update: October 8, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 8 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
The Case of the Greedy Mountain
A story about unplanned construction, geological vulnerability, and why you should never build your house in a giant’s mouth.
Disaster Update: October 7, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 7 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Disaster Update: October 6, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 6 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Devastation in the Eastern Himalayas: Landslides and Flash Floods of October 5, 2025
The catastrophic October 2025 floods in the Eastern Himalayas (Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal) prove that unseasonal rain is the new normal. We reveal the systemic failures—from dam mismanagement to ignoring GLOF threats—that turned a heavy storm into a multi-state humanitarian crisis.
Disaster Update: October 5, 2025
आज का दिन हैं 5 अक्टूबर 2025, और हम लाये हैं आज घटित आपदाओं का लेखा-जोखा : Get to know about disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions, besides updating your knowledge of historical disaster related facts.
Disaster Update: October 4, 2025
October 4 – Disasters across the globe on this day, particularly in the mountainous regions. Get to know the events of today as also those recorded in history.
Understanding Ourselves to Build a Safer Future
To build a safer future we need to understand our psychological and cultural biases and prepare a strategy to overcome these so as to infuse resilience in our communities.
Santa’s Blessed Mohalla and the Ignored Landslide Warning
Adherence to disaster safety measures is to come by only with the acceptance that our inherent Positivity Bias makes us ignorant and vulnerable.
The German Lesson and the Bamboo Army
A story about moving from despair to action, and the discovery that the best solutions are often the simplest ones.
The Ghost of the Buried River
A story about a modern road, an old map, and the discovery that sometimes, the biggest floods happen where there is no river at all.
The Riverfront Property Steal
A real estate bargain can well turn out to be a high-risk liability – better ensure you are not encroaching the floodplains and not partnering obliteration of drainage as waas done in the Doon Valley.
Dehradun’s Flood Catastrophe and the Global Imperative for Floodplain Resilience
Dehradun’s devastating floods in September 2025 were not an act of God, but a man-made catastrophe. We uncover how the obliteration of the city’s ancient canal network for wider roads turned a manageable downpour into urban ruin.
Santa’s Rulebook Recitation and the Clogged Drain
Voluntary compliance of disaster safety measures through awareness and capacity building holds the key to community resilience and disaster safety.
Santa’s Heavy Duty Survival Kit
Survival kit is for immediate survival and mobility – keep it light and at an easily accessible place – regularly replace expired items.
Bhagirath Tapasya and the Modern Austerity
Conserving pristine natural ecology and environment of Ganga by way of not polluting its waters is our moral and spiritual duty.
Unravelling the 2025 Punjab Floods and Charting a Path to Resilience
The 2025 Punjab floods reveal a devastating truth: disasters are a hybrid of nature and neglect and here we uncover the systemic failures that amplified the monsoon’s fury besides offering a blueprint for a flood-proof future.
Unraveling the Complex Web of Landslide Vulnerability and Resilience
The Himalayan landscape holds a dangerous secret. This article unravels how our own choices—not just climate change—are turning natural hazards into preventable catastrophes, and offers a blueprint for a safer future.
Uttarakhand’s Monsoon Disasters: The Real Killer Is Not the Rain
From the tragic floods at Dharali to the devastation in Tharali, this is not a story of natural fury alone and here we uncover the systemic human failures that amplified the 2025 monsoon’s destruction and reveal a blueprint for a safer, more resilient Uttarakhand.
India’s Deluge: From Ancient Harmony to a Modern Flood Crisis
Climate change and unplanned urbanisation are exacerbating flood impact and the situation calls for reviewing and redefining our flood management strategy.
Landslide Safe Uttarakhand
A blueprint for a landslide safe Uttarakhand that advocates integration of governance and true inter-agency coordination, with the involvement of local communities armed with their traditional knowledge, for proactive mitigation.