Experts warn Uttarakhand’s disaster patterns are shifting, new risks emerging

A group of disaster‑risk experts has highlighted a noticeable shift in the types of natural calamities affecting Uttarakhand. While the state has long grappled with floods and earthquakes, recent assessments indicate a rise in landslides and glacial‑lake outburst floods, signalling a broader change in hazard patterns.

The researchers attribute the evolving risk profile to factors such as accelerated glacial melt, altered rainfall patterns and increasing human pressure on fragile mountain ecosystems. They warn that existing disaster‑management frameworks may not be fully equipped to handle these newer threats.

Authorities are being urged to revise early‑warning systems, strengthen community preparedness programmes and invest in resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impact of the emerging hazards.

The experts stress that proactive planning now could reduce loss of life and property in future events, calling for coordinated action across state agencies, local bodies and scientific institutions.