Thread by @weatherindia

#ChinaFloods Set Alarm Bells Ringing for Dams in Fragile #Himalayas; Experts Explain What India Is Doing and Should Do

weather.com/en-IN/india/ne…

(📸: IANS)

#China's central Henan province received its heaviest rainfall in 1,000 years—Zhengzhou saw 624 mm of rainfall on Tuesday, with a third of that amount falling between 16:00 and 17:00 alone.

#ChinaFloods

The downpour led to massive floods, killing over two dozen people and leading to evacuation of thousands across many cities and villages.

#China #ChinaFloods

The People's Liberation Army had warned that the dam "may collapse at any time". It was breached on Tuesday night by the army to release floodwaters, which in turn, flooded the highly populated downstream areas.

Several dams and reservoirs crossed the warning levels, and soldiers were mobilised to divert rivers that have burst their banks, a BBC report said.

#China #ChinaFloods

Scientists have said many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.

#China #ChinaFloods

In India, #HimachalPradesh witnessed torrential rain and cloudburst leading to colossal floods just last week. Earlier in February, there was a glacier burst leading to damage to two hydropower projects near Joshi Math in #Uttarakhand.

#China #ChinaFloods

Taking a cue from China's massive floods, dam breaks and damage to infrastructure, the pertinent question is whether India should be buildings big dams in the fragile #Himalayas and using 'dams as flood regulators' policy?

#China #ChinaFloods

Since early 1980s, climatologists have been warning that climate change will take place if we exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius increase since the industrial revolution.

#China #ChinaFloods #Himalayas

Experts have poked holes in the government argument that dams are regulators of floods. The latest example from China has shown the adverse impact because of the dams.

#China #ChinaFloods #Himalayas

Solar power is distributed over every inch of the country, does not need to be transported over large areas. Also, 'dams for irrigation' too can be taken care of by changing the cropping pattern in favour of coarse grains against water guzzling crops such as rice and wheat.