The presentation is prepared to study the 2013 Kedarnath incident, starting with basic introduction to disaster, Kedarnath and related incidents that followed one after another. It includes mapping, identifying shortcomings, provide recommendations and analyse the statistics of death and injured persons. Also involves study of the relief forces and organizations involved in the rescue operations. Finally concluded with inferences and suggestions from the study.

1. KEDARNATH FLOODS
Submitted to
Ar. Deeksha Singh
Prepared by:
Ar. Anisha Deb
2ND semester, 1st year
SAP ID-1000017748
M.PLAN (Urban and Regional Planning)
School of Architecture, Planning and Design

2. CONTENTS
• DISASTER
• TYPES OF DISASTER
• INTRODUCTION TO FLOODS,
CLOUDBURST AND
LANDSLIDES
• INTRODUCTION TO
KEDARNATH FLOODS
• MAPPING
• LOCATION, AREA, ZONE
• DEATH RATE
• INJURED
• RESCUE AND RELIEF
• SHORTCOMING
• SUGGESTIONS

3. DISASTER
• Disaster means catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence affecting any area from
natural and manmade causes or by accident or negligence, which results in substantial
loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of property, or damage to, or
degradation of environment and is of such nature and magnitude as to be beyond coping
capacity of the community of the affected areas.
• UNDRR- A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale
due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and
capacity, leading to one or more of the following: human, material, economic and
environmental losses and impacts.

4. TYPES OF DISASTER
• Cloudbursts are another example of natural causes of disaster, which also occurred in
Kedarnath.

5. INTRODUCTION TO FLOODS,
CLOUDBURST AND LANDSLIDES
Source- https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html#:~:text=Flooding%20is%20a%20temporary%20overflow,Floods%20can%20be%20dangerous,
https://www.britannica.com/science/cloudburst, https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/landslides.html#:~:text=Landslides%20occur%20when%20masses%20of,natural%20stability%20of%20a%20slope.
Guwahati Floods
Cloudburst
Landslide
FLOODS
• Flooding is a
temporary overflow of
water onto land that is
normally dry.
• Flooding can develop
slowly or quickly.
• Floods can result from
rain, snow, coastal
storms, storm surges,
overflows of rivers,
and dam failure.
• Types include- Flash
floods, river floods,
storm surges, coastal
floods, burn scars,
debris flows,
ice/debris jams,
snowmelt, dry wash,
dam breaks, and levee
failures.
CLOUDBURST
• A sudden, very heavy
rainfall, usually local
in nature and of
brief duration.
• Most so-called
cloudbursts occur in
connection with
thunderstorms.
• In these storms there
are violent up rushes
of air, which at times
prevent the
condensing raindrops
from falling to the
ground.
• A large amount of
water may thus
accumulate at high
levels, and if the
upward currents are
weakened the whole
of this water falls at
one time.
LANDSLIDES
•Occurs when masses
of rock, earth, or
debris move down a
slope.
•Landslides are caused
by disturbances in the
natural stability of a
slope.
•Debris flows, also
known as mudslides, a
common type of fast-
moving landslide that
tends to flow in
channels.
•They can accompany
heavy rains or follow
droughts, earthquakes,
or volcanic eruptions.
• One such multi hazard example is of Kedarnath Floods 2013.

6. INTRODUCTION TO KEDARNATH
FLOODS
• Disaster- heavy rains and
cloudburst resulted in flash floods
and landslides
• Location – Kedarnath temple area,
Rudraprayag district (86 km)
• Occured in 16 June 2013
• Small town- nagar panchayat
• Kedarnath is surrounded by two
holy rivers Mandakini and
Saraswati.
• Most remote of ‘chota char dham’
• In Proximity to Chorabari glacier
Causes of flood
• Heavy rains and cloudburst
• Overflow of Chorabari lake
(glacier)
• Overflow of river waters
Source- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18, https://kedarnathtemple.com/kedarnath-flood-story-and-reason/
Location map showing
terrain
Location map showing nearby
places
Site before disaster Site after disaster

7. SOURCE- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18
Image shows the impact of disaster on housing Situation after the cloudburst
Post disaster image of Kedarnath
Trekking path to Kedarnath

8. MAPPING
SOURCE- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283318613_Devastation_in_the_Kedarnath_Mandakini_Valley_Garhwal_Himalaya_during_16-17_June_2013_a_remote_sensing_and_ground-
based_assessment/figures?lo=1
Image shows pre-disaster and post-disaster mapping of the site, walkways and built
up destroyed in disaster

9. MAPPING
SOURCE- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283318613_Devastation_in_the_Kedarnath_Mandakini_Valley_Garhwal_Himalaya_during_16-17_June_2013_a_remote_sensing_and_ground-
based_assessment/figures?lo=1
Image showing pathways and building footprint that washed away
INFERENCES
•Unregulated construction and congested street pattern made it easier for
destruction.
•There are no building guidelines
•No proper planning of settlement
•Construction in floodplain area

10. LOCATION
SOURCE- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18
•Kedarnath temple area, Rudraprayag district (86 km)
Location map (Google maps)
Location with terrain (Google earth)

11. DEATH RATE
SOURCE- https://nidm.gov.in/pdf/pubs/india%20disaster%20report%202013.pdf
•As per the State Government, a total of 169 people
died and 4021 people were reported missing
(presumed to be dead) (09 May 2014).
•2,845 death certificates were issued by the
government
•About 10,000 people died (Meet Fatewar and
Manmeet Kaur, Urban Ecology, p.35)
Rescue operation by Indian army across river Homage to martyrs
State list of missing people

12. INJURED
SOURCE- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18
Medical camp for
victims
First aid for
Animal rescue
•236 injured people as per media report
Damage caused report by state government
Rescue operation

13. RESCUE AND RELIEF
SOURCE- https://nidm.gov.in/pdf/pubs/india%20disaster%20report%202013.pdf
•105 satellite phones were distributed by
the Government of India to various
Central and state agencies (also BSNL).
•Army, Air Force and Central
Paramilitary Forces (ITBP, NDRF) on
June 16
•A Coordination Committee was formed
under the leadership of the Chief
Secretary for conducting daily reviews.
•The State Government established a
Missing Persons Cell on June 27 at the
Disaster Mitigation and Management
Centre (DMMC) at Dehradun.
•The “missing persons” data was
managed with the support of
International Business Machines
Corporation (IBM) professionals.
•Facebook and Twitter accounts were
opened, where state-wise photographs
and other accounts were posted.
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India
Uttarakhand Government
(state)
National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF)
Ministry of Defence and other
ministries
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
Indian Air Force and the
Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas
National Crisis Management
Committee (NCMC)
Indian Air Force and the Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

14. SHORTCOMING
SOURCE- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18
•As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the
rainfall in the State was measured at 385.1 mm, against the
normal rainfall of 71.3 mm, which was in excess by 440%.
•As per the Geological Survey of India (GSI), caused the
melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres.
•Eruption of the Mandakini River causing heavy floods in
the Rudraprayag district and adjacent areas.
•The enormous volume of water also induced to erosion along
all the river valleys, which in turn, triggered landslides at a
number of places.
Image showing variation of river
flow before and after cloudburst
Inferences
•Poor crowd management system
•New construction projects in eco-sensitive zone
•Deforestation of forests
•Rapid Construction of dams disturbed the water bodies
•Poor communication and coordination among the authorities
•After warning from IMD and GSI, no restriction was imposed
in tourist movements.

15. Inferences
• Poor planning of space
• No building codes, guidelines
• Lack of local people’s awareness
Image shows before and after condition of
Charobari Tal lake from which the flood water
came down
Image shows before and after condition of
Kedarnath
Overflow and collapse of the Chorabari Lake
which released large volume of water

16. SUGGESTIONS
SOURCE- https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/kedarnath-survivors-tell-horrific-tales-about-disaster-167313-2013-06-18
Government recommendations
•Flood Plain Zoning Act regulating construction within the flood plain of
a river should be implemented strictly.
•For clearance of all hydro-power and other mega projects in
ecologically sensitive regions like Uttarakhand, the Disaster Impact
Assessment (DIA) should also be made compulsory besides
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
•Landslide risk zonation mapping be completed on priority.
Development and enforcement of guidelines, regulations and codes for
landslides is critical.
•Effective stabilization of slopes in shear and weak zones be undertaken
using scientific techniques available at national/international levels.
•A Special Central Programme be undertaken for construction of new
roads and renovation of existing roads in a scientific manner.
Inferences and suggestions
•Preparation and implementation of early disaster management and mitigation plan.
•Awareness and training of public and rescue forces
•Emergency disaster fund stock
•Research and technology in field of disaster and related pursuits.
•Capacity building programmes for people and relief/rescue communities.

17. REFERENCES
•Disaster report (2023). National Institute of Disaster Management . Available at:
https://nidm.gov.in/PDF/pubs/India%20Disaster%20Report%202013.pdf
•Disaster_Management_A_Case_Study_of_Uttakhand (2013) gbpihedenvis pdf disaster data.
Available at:
http://gbpihedenvis.nic.in/PDFs/Disaster%20Data/Disaster%20Data%20Uttarakhand/Pape
rs/Disaster_Management_A_Case_Study_of_Uttakhand.pdf
•Here-is-what-happened-in-kedarnath-and-rest-of-uttarakhand-in-2013 (2013) Indian express
article. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/research/here-is-what-happened-in-
kedarnath-and-rest-of-uttarakhand-in-2013-
5482050/#:~:text=Reportedly%20the%20worst%20hit%20was,toll%20of%20more%20than%20
5000
•Uttarakhand-flash-floods (2013) reliefweb.int/report/India . Available at:
https://reliefweb.int/report/india/uttarakhand-flash-floods-%E2%80%93-report
•3-yrs-after-kedarnath-tragedy-number-of-deaths-yet-to-be-ascertained (2016)
timesofindia.indiatimes. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/3-
yrs-after-kedarnath-tragedy-number-of-deaths-yet-to-be-
ascertained/articleshow/52768933.cms