Tour of their own village and Banta reveals the three real, man-made culprits that are turning their Himalayan paradise into a death trap.
Santa Banta
The River That Held Its Breath
On way to Yamunotri, Santa and Banta witness a massive landslide near Syana Chatti. The real terror began when the mighty Yamuna river below them slowed to a silent, ominous trickle.
The Great Cloudburst Caper
Despite continuing intellectual debates on the causes of the Dharali flash flood, for a grieving victims the cause of the bullet is irrelevant.
The Bitter Medicine of Relocation
After the floodwaters recede, Banta prescribes a bitter but life-saving medicine for Dharali’s future, a pill that is hard for Santa to swallow.
The Brave Constable Versus the Angry River
Santa proposes a simple solution involving one brave constable, while Banta calculates the odds of him being washed away by an angry crowd before the angry river arrives.
The Great Himalayan Checklist Caper
Santa is impressed by the administration’s meticulous checklist for pilgrims, while Banta points out they forgot to check if the venue was built inside an active volcano.
The Geomorphic Time Bomb Tour
Santa discovers a beautiful new tourist spot on a satellite map, while Banta starts planning the marketing campaign for the Geomorphic Time Bomb Tour.
The Red Alert Tourist Discount
Santa plans a trip according to his non-refundable bookings, while Banta calculates the high probability of a non-refundable tragedy.
The Price of a Short Walk
A tale of two villages—one safe on a high ridge, one erased in the valley—a story about the profound wisdom of our ancestors (who paid the safety tax) and the hidden costs of modern convenience.
The Mountain’s Burst Water Tank
Looking beyond the headlines, to understand the real mechanics of a disaster, Santa and Banta play detective, uncovering why a “cloudburst” behaved more like a catastrophic dam break.