Though tragic, the Mansa Devi stampede of 27 July 2025 in Haridwar is a wake up call to seriously review and gear up Uttarakhand’s crowd safety and management capabilities.
Santa’s Flying Wrappers and Banta’s Choked Nullah Symphony
Symphony of choked nullahs and associated water logging and floods are the creation of our irresponsible waste management that clog the nullahs and force water to encroach our backyards.
Rishikesh: At the Crossroads of Faith and Fault Lines – A Strategy for Urban Disaster Resilience
Safe from disasters in the past makes one ignore vulnerability of Rishikesh. High footfall of pilgrims, tourists and adventure enthusiasts however enhances the risk and calls for undertaking urban resilience measures.
The Wisdom of the Wetland and Santa’s Concrete Fever
Wetlands are nature’s flood mitigation warriors – these absorb floodwaters as also help groundwater recharge. Wetland conservation is thus an eco-DRR approach that needs to be promoted.
The Delhi-Badrinath Express and the Gasping Lungs
Fast increasing craving for express travel through the Himalayas, if not planned well, could be disastrous and derail our tourism promotion strategies.
The Weeping Terraces of the Ghost Village
Lack of regular upkeep of the agricultural terraces in the Himalayan region enhances the risk of landslides, and this emerging issue needs to be addressed immediately.
Kedarnath’s Precarious Future: Reconciling Faith, Development, and Environmental Reality
The trajectory of developmental initiatives around Kedarnath is a clear indication of precarious future of the holy shrine. We need to be mindful while planning and promoting commercialisation in these pristine environments.
Himalayan Habitats: Built on Landslides, Threatened by Negligence
Not landslides, but our ignorance and greed are responsible for increasing losses due to this phenomenon that facilitated growth of habitations in the Himalayan region.
Kagaz ki Naav Campaign and the Real Flood
Holding elections during the peak of the monsoon amounts to not only infringement of the rights of both the contestants and the voters, but also exposing them to higher risk.
The Missing Chowkidar and the Insurance of Sorrow
Insurance can’t be an alibi for exposing the officials as also general public to known risks during the monsoon season.