Cloudbursts and Heavy Rainfall

Introduction :

  • Sudden, “highly-localised rains” in Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday evening (July 8) caused flooding and led to the deaths of at least 16 people and injuries  to more than 20 others. Those who died were at a camp near the cave, a site of pilgrimage.

What is a cloudburst?

  • A cloudburst refers to an extreme amount of rain that happens in a short period, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder, and this has a precise definition. 
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines it as unexpected precipitation exceeding 100mm (or 10 cm) per hour over a geographical region of approximately 20 to 30 square km. Significant amounts of rainfall such as this can result in floods.

Why do cloudbursts occur in hilly areas like Amarnath?

  • Experts have said it is difficult to predict when exactly a cloudburst will occur, and there is little definitive data on the exact number of cloudbursts that occur in India. 

  • Due to their definition dealing with a very small area, it is difficult to accurately predict and identify cloudbursts immediately. 

  • However, they are more likely to occur in mountainous zones mainly because of terrain and elevation.

  • This is because, in hilly areas, sometimes saturated clouds ready to condense into rain cannot produce rain, due to the upward movement of the very warm current of air. 

  • Instead of falling downwards, raindrops are carried upwards by the air current. New drops are formed and existing raindrops increase in size. 

  • After a point, the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold on to, and they drop down together in a quick flash.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Doctrine of Colourable Legislation

  The doctrine of colourable legislation checks if the legislature has transgressed its power mentioned in the constitution. The expression “Colourable Legislation” means “what can’t be done directly, can’t be done indirectly as well”. In this article, we will discuss what is the doctrine of colourable legislation and the famous Supreme Court Judgements in which this doctrine is used to check the validity of the law. Concept Concept of Doctrine of Colourable Legislation Separation of powers entails the division or sharing of power. The Constitution states that each of these organs should exercise diverse powers in order to prevent the misuse of authority by any of the government's organs. As a result, a system of checks and balances emerges. With respect to their respective subjects, the Constitution has split powers between the federal government and the states. However, the legislative body occasionally passes laws that are outside of its purview. This signifies it has oversteppe...
Read more

Doctrine of Laches

  The doctrine of laches is applied by the judiciary to check if the case was brought in front of the court in a reasonable time or not. Laches literally means delay. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, the doctrine is based on the maxim that “equity aids the vigilant and not those who slumber on their rights.” Therefore one can claim their legal right in reasonable time and not after a long delay. Concept of Doctrine of Laches This doctrine means that if a prolonged delay in asserting a legal right or claim has harmed the opposing party, the right or claim will not be upheld or permitted. Anyone seeking redress must appear in court within a fair time frame. However, the question is whether fundamental rights can be denied under Article 32 due to a delay. Fundamental rights cannot be withheld just due to inaction, as this is unjustifiable. It is vital for one's personal development. Supreme Court Judgements in which doctrine of laches is used Ravindra Jain vs UOI The supreme court...
Read more