·        A cloudburst is a sudden and intense weather phenomenon characterized by heavy rainfall over a small, localized area, primarily caused by convective clouds, such as cumulonimbus clouds.

·        Typically lasting from minutes to a few hours, it can bring precipitation exceeding 100mm/h across a geographical region of approximately 20-30 square km.

·        In the Indian Subcontinent, cloudbursts often occur when monsoon clouds move northwards from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea, occasionally resulting in rainfall rates of up to 75 millimetres per hour, affecting regions from the plains to the Himalayas.

·        Prediction: Forecasting cloudbursts remains challenging due to their rapid development over short periods. While the India Meteorological Department forecasts rainfall events in advance, they do not predict the exact amount of rainfall, focusing instead on categories like light, heavy, or very heavy rainfall. This limitation applies universally across meteorological agencies worldwide.

·        Consequences of Cloudbursts: Flash floods, Landslides, Mudflows and Soil erosion

What is a Landslide?

·        A landslide is the movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope, driven by gravity.

·        It falls under “mass wasting,” which encompasses downward soil and rock movements influenced directly by gravity.

·        Common in mountainous areas, landslides are influenced by factors like soil type, geological conditions, and slope steepness.

·        Natural triggers include heavy rainfall, earthquakes, snowmelt, and flooding.

·        Anthropogenic activities such as excavation, hill cutting, infrastructure development, and overgrazing can also induce landslides.

·        In India, rainfall-induced landslides are frequent occurrences.