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Torrential rains and landslides because of a cloudburst have killed as many as 12 people, while 25 others have gone missing from <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword>'s Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts. Several villages were buried in mud and many residents are reported to be trapped under the debris. 
 
SDM Chamoli SK Barnwal told TOI that eight persons trapped in the debris have been rescued so far. 
 
Because of the cloudburst in Singhali area of Pithorgarh, the district registered over 100 mm rainfall in two hours in a region of 50 squrae kilometre, which led to several homes being washed away. 
 
Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat expressed grief over the loss of these lives and announced Rs two lakhs as compensation to their families. 
 
Yesterday, the MeT department of Dehradun had issued a warning of heavy rains in isolated places in Uttarakhand especially Nainital, Udhamsingh Nagar and Champawat districts. 
 
<a href="http://www.treklocations.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/i11_70739477.jpg">Image source</a> | File photo for representational purpose only

Uttarakhand cloudburst kills 12; 25 go missing

In a massive move for the country’s growing climate woes, India is aiming to control weather phenomena like rainfall, lightning, and hail within five years. Dubbed "<keyword id="23131560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-Mausam" source="keywords">Mission Mausam</keyword>," this government-backed initiative includes the development of <keyword id="23148975" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mausam-GPT" source="keywords">Mausam GPT</keyword>, a weather AI model designed to enhance prediction accuracy and even manipulate the weather. This would make India one of the first countries to experiment with <keyword id="21369368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="weather-modification" source="keywords">weather modification</keyword> on a significant scale. <h2>Mission Mausam</h2>India’s "Mission Mausam" aims to reshape the future of weather management by using technology to control rain. Over the next 18 months, the government will start with lab simulations to either enhance or suppress rainfall. The ultimate goal, as outlined by Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandran, is to roll out full-scale weather modification within five years. He stated that the initiative could even target events like Independence Day, where “one can think about suppressing rain.” By deploying <keyword id="20644540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cloud-seeding" source="keywords">cloud seeding</keyword> techniques alongside AI-driven weather prediction tools like "Mausam GPT," the mission seeks to significantly improve India’s ability to manage extreme weather conditions. A key aspect of the plan involves building a robust system of advanced radars, supercomputers, satellites with high-performance sensors, and GIS-based decision support systems. This cutting-edge tech is expected to boost India’s short- and medium-range weather forecasting accuracy by 5-10%, ensuring no event — such as cloudbursts — goes undetected. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113251187" title="India braces for an intensely harsh winter as La Niña takes hold" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>India is not new to weather manipulation efforts. The government has been running pilot projects, such as the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) in Maharashtra, to study cloud properties and enhance rainfall. <h2>Why is weather manipulation necessary and is it safe?</h2>Extreme weather events in India, like deadly floods, droughts, and hailstorms, have noticeably increased in frequency due to <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword>. Mission Mausam could potentially give India an edge in combating these disasters. For example, imagine preventing a flood by suppressing rain or creating artificial rain during a drought. India’s investment of Rs 2,000 crore over two years certainly reflects the seriousness of the mission, which is expected to expand further as research progresses. However, weather modification, including cloud seeding, is not without controversy. Globally, cloud seeding has had limited success, with countries like the US, Russia, and China also experimenting with these methods but facing inconsistent results. Even former MoES Secretary Madhavan Rajeevan has noted that “the technology is complex” and still in its developmental stages. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112825937" title="Shivaji Maharaj Statue collapse: Identifying 5 reasons behind the accident" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Further, the potential downsides can't be ignored. While controlling the weather could save lives, meddling with natural processes is risky. Weather manipulation might have unintended ecological consequences, like shifting rainfall patterns that could harm ecosystems and agriculture. It may also pose geopolitical risks, as neighbouring countries could accuse India of altering weather systems that affect their own climates. Ultimately, while the idea of managing the weather may seem appealing, it opens up a Pandora’s box of environmental and ethical challenges that need careful consideration.

The Indian government is taking steps to control rainfall and weather within five years — is it too risky of a move?

As many as 2,391 people lost their lives and over eight lakh houses were damaged during the <keyword id="6358301" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon">monsoon</keyword> this year, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. When the rains and floods hit different states, peak deployment of the National Disaster Response Force was 176 teams which rescued 98,962 people and 617 livestock besides providing medical assistance to 23,869 people in the country, he said. "During the South-west Monsoon, 2019, a number of states and union territories are reported to have been affected by floods. As per information received from the states and UTs, 2,391 human lives and 15,729 cattle were lost, 8,00,067 houses were damaged and 63.975 lakh hectares of cropped areas were affected due to floods, cloudburst, landslide," Rai said replying to a written question. ACB AQS

Freak rains and floods claimed 2,391 lives and destroyed 8 lakh homes this year

In a tragic scene which unfolded following a massive landslide by a cloudburst in India's northern Himachal Pradesh state on Sunday, two buses carrying at least 55 passengers were swept off the road into a gorge. Sources indicate as many as 50 people have lost their lives in the mishap. Atleast 47 dead bodies were recovered on Sunday before search operations were called off. A confirmatory search is underway since today morning, but reports suggest all the bodies have been recovered. The incident happened in the Mandi district, 431 km (268 miles) north of New Delhi on early Sunday morning. Officials said the landslide struck around 12.24am on the highway near <keyword id="4884794" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kotrupi">Kotrupi</keyword>, where the two buses had halted for refreshments. Sources said a Katra-bound bus was first hit by a big boulder, then the landslide. The bus rolled down 200 metres into a gorge. Its mangled remains were later retrieved by rescue teams. Teams of NDRF, Army, police and home guards were immediately deployed at the spot

You Searched For "cloudburst" and got 5 results

Uttarakhand cloudburst kills 12; 25 go missing

BI India Bureau

The Indian government is taking steps to control rainfall and weather within five years — is it too risky of a move?

Ankush Banerjee

Freak rains and floods claimed 2,391 lives and destroyed 8 lakh homes this year

PTI

Landslide in Himachal sweeps away two buses, 50 feared dead

BI India Bureau

All I wanted was a swimming pool. What I got was a $31,000 lesson in Zelle fraud.

Devin Friedman

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