As authorities begin a risky, controlled breach of the lake on Yamuna, Banta channels the ghost of Gohna Tal – a 19th-century success story of monitoring and early warning to deliver a powerful lesson on why our modern approach to disaster management is dangerously flawed.
Disaster management
The Scientist’s New Compass
To stop being disaster detective and try becoming community doctor, was Banta’s advise to the brilliant young scientist and he was quick to grasp and launch a new mission.
The Ticking Geomorphic Time Bomb: A Blueprint for Safety from Himalayan Landslide Lakes
Beyond the headlines of Dharali and Chisoti, remember that the Himalayas’ landslide lakes are ticking time bomb—and our current approach to safety is dangerously outdated.
The Unlearned Lessons of the Himalayas: From Dhauliganga to Dharali, a Blueprint for Survival
Moving ahead from Dharali, this is a blueprint for survival which paves way for proactive anticipation and mitigation of Himalayan hazards by integrating science, traditional knowledge, and responsible development.
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 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.
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.
Climate Change and Disaster Management in Uttarakhand
Climate change impacts are a major challenge for disaster management professionals, and more so in the Himalayan region where the stakes are high and changes are irreversible.
Traditional Knowledge: An Untapped Resource for Disaster Resilience
At the face of fast increasing disaster frequency and magnitude and challenges posed by changing climate amalgamation of science and traditional knowledge hold the promise to ensure disaster resilience and promote climate adaptation.
Mass Awareness for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction
Mass awareness is the cornerstone of disaster risk reduction as it alone can ensure voluntary compliance of prevention, mitigation and safety measures.