What is the phenomenon of ‘cloudbursts’? Explain. (2024, 10 Marks)

Paper	GS Paper 3
Word Limit	150 words
Syllabus Topic	Disaster and disaster management – Cloudbursts

Model Answer

A cloudburst is a sudden, very heavy rainfall over a small area. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is rainfall of 100 mm or more in one hour over an area of about 20–30 sq km.

How a Cloudburst Happens

• Moist air: Monsoon winds bring warm, moist air to the hills.
• Orographic lifting: Mountains force this air to rise fast and cool.
• Cloud growth: Tall cumulonimbus clouds form with strong upward winds.
• Sudden release: Rising air holds back raindrops. When it weakens, the water falls at once.
• Trigger: A Western Disturbance meeting monsoon winds can make it worse.

Where and Why It Matters

• Common in the Himalayas: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Causes flash floods, landslides and loss of life, as in Leh (2010), Kedarnath (2013) and near the Amarnath cave (2022).

Conclusion

Cloudbursts are hard to predict. More Doppler weather radars, early warnings and safe hill construction can reduce the damage.

Related PYQs

• Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. (2022)
• With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. (2016)
• What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples. (2025)

See all: UPSC GS3 Mains Model Answers