Simulation and Analysis of a Snow Avalanche Accident in Lower Western Himalaya, India
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Simulation and Analysis of a Snow Avalanche Accident in Lower Western Himalaya, India Dhiraj Kumar Singh1,2
•
Varunendra Dutta Mishra1 • Hemendra Singh Gusain1
Received: 11 June 2019 / Accepted: 10 September 2020 Ó Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2020
Abstract In Western Himalaya, an average 49 person die every year due to snow avalanche activities and this death rate is very high as compared to other Asian countries. A snow avalanche accident was observed on 5 January 2018 on Chowkibal– Tangdhar (CT) road axis at avalanche site number CT-8 located near Chowkibal village in Kupwara district, union territory Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the present paper, we discuss snow avalanche simulation, the climatic condition, avalanche debris height and length, and suggested solutions to handle avalanche situations. Rapid Mass MovementS numerical model in combination with digital elevation model and potential release area has been used to simulate avalanche accident occurred on 5 January 2018 at CT-8. The analysis demonstrates maximum snow avalanche velocity, impact of pressure and height of flow to be * 25 ms-1, * 9.39 9 104 kgm-1 s-2, and * 3.0 m respectively on 5 January 2018 at CT-8. Further simulated avalanche debris height and length form road has been validated with ground observed data. Ground reconnaissance of the location was conducted by a team of Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh and it has been observed that lack of ‘avalanche awareness and Standard Operating Procedures during movement in avalanche prone areas’ among the travellers on the road cause accident. The present paper seems to be first to investigate snow avalanche accident in Western Himalaya and recommend that proper campaigning of avalanche awareness among the people residing in avalanche prone areas of Himalaya could reduce such accidents significantly. Keywords Chowkibal–Tangdhar road Snow avalanche Western Himalaya RAMMS
Introduction Himalaya can deliver valuable natural resources to society, i.e. water, construction material minerals, wood for fuel and recreational services (Viviroli et al. 2007; Singh et al. 2020) and also responsible for climate change. However, in mountainous regions, due to harsh weather conditions and complex topography it is responsible for natural hazards such as snow avalanches, debris flows, rockfalls landslides, and flash floods (Singh et al. 2020). In Himalaya, snow avalanches are common natural phenomenon and widely drift through an open network or & Dhiraj Kumar Singh [email protected] 1
Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment-RDC (DRDO), Chandigarh 160037, India
2
Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh 160012, India
close gullies (McClung and Schaerer 1993). Avalanches become hazardous when people or property comes in their way. Number of avalanche accidents and damage to property reported every year in snow bound regions of the globe. In Indian Himalaya two union territory and three states are more avalanche prone such as union territ
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