6.9 Richter Earthquake in Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalayas : The Kalimpong Chapter

Rainfall data of Kalimpong from 14Sep -19Sep2011.

• 14Sep - 16mm
• 15Sep - 57mm
• 16Sep - 25mm
• 17Sep - 11mm
• 18Sep -114mm ( mostly from 9am to 2.30pm) . The quake hit us at 6.10pm
• 19Sep - 14mm
• Total rainfall from 14-19Sep2011 - 237mm
• Average rainfall for Sep (Darjeeling district) - 388mm ( Source http://imd.gov.in)
  
  Thus we received approx 61% of the monthly rainfall in just 6 days and  the quake struck us barely 4 hrs after a spell of very heavy rainfall.
  
  Fact Sheet :-
• As on date there were 4 fatalities in Kalimpong caused directly or indirectly by the quake.
• There has been huge damage to infrastructure all over Kalimpong sub-division with most of the damage being to older type homes/ buildings.
  
  Why we escaped :-
  
• The quake lasted barely 20secs.
• The first 10days of Sep2011 was more or less dry hence despite the heavy rain (see above), there were no major earthquake-induced landslides.
• The timing (6.10pm IST) of the quake ensured that all were wide awake and that we could help each other.
• There was absolutely no rain during or after the quake so we could wait for some hours in the open for the after shocks to get past.
• On 18Sep2011 night (after the quake), it was cool outside and not the depth of winters when we would have frozen while remaining out doors.
  
  What did not work :-
  
•  Cell phones :- They just went dead and for hours we could not get any news from any one.
  The reasons could be technical malfunction or congestion on the lines with too much traffic from anxious people.
  Possible solution 1 :- Making people aware about making short, precise calls and avoid jamming the networks with long avoidable chats.
  Possible solution 2 :- Use land line phones where possible.
  
• Power supply :- Whether intentional or accidental, the power blinked off so we were left with what ever backup systems (battery powered inverters) we had and sooner than later they also packed up leaving us in the dark.
  Possible solution 1 :- Solar powered backup lights.
  Possilbe solution 2 :- See  "What worked" below.
• Internet -Never the most dependable or stable means of communication - the net also packed up.
  
  What worked :-
  
• The warmth of people who helped, cared and phoned or called.
• The much forgotten and neglected Kerosene hurricane lamps.
• Candles and matchsticks.
• Warm clothes.
• Transistor radio.
• A hot meal!
  
  What we could do better and lessons learnt
  
• Never assume it cannot happen to us.
• Learn to be self reliant and try to survive the disaster and 3 days after without external help.
• Get a family survival kit ready.
• Get the community involved - they are the weakest link which could transpose into the strongest one.
• Make a disaster management plan at the family and community level and REHEARSE the plan with all members ie go thru mock drills!
• Don't spread rumors - no one knows when the next quake will occur, but being prepared will help.
  
  
  Praful Rao
  
  

The 2nd Indian Landslide Congress (2ILC), Guwahati, 15-16Sep2011

 We attended the 1st Indian Landslide Congress in Lucknow last year and it was again a unique privilege to attend the second one in Guwahati, in the state of Assam, on the 15-16Sep2011.
The Congress was the initiative of Indian Landslides (NIIM, Shillong) with Dr RK Avasthy (former Director, Geological Survey of India) as the convenor - and it was backed to the hilt by NEC member, Shri PP Shrivastav (IAS).
There were 24 presentations made in 4 technical sessions and what emerged from the Congress was :-

• Recognition that landslides are perhaps the most devastating of disaster forms (because of its frequency of occurrence and destruction of life and property) and also the most neglected - as such the necessity to give it much more importance.
• The North East India had along with landslides, multiple hazards such as earthquakes which could trigger landslides and hence the necessity of developing a holistic strategy to combat these hazards.
• All the north eastern states (ie the 7 sisters and the lone brother ie Sikkim) were supposed to submit the geographical location and details of two major landslides which were impacting human lives and property to the Member, NEC (Shri PP Shrivastava, IAS) by 31Oct2011. Further analysis of these landslides with respect to early warning and landslide prediction would be undertaken by IIT Mumbai under the stewardship of Prof TN Singh.
• I am glad to say that they have agreed to include 2 landslides from Darjeeling district also even though the district is in West Bengal and as such not a part of NEC. I shall be forwarding the required details to Member NEC soon.
  
  
  My grateful thanks to Dr RK Avasthy, Convener of the 2ILC and Shri PP Shrivastava (IAS), Member, North Eastern Council (NEC) for organizing this congress and bringing to focus what is a long neglected issue.
  
  Praful Rao

Rainfall data and landslide report - Aug2011

Rainfall was more or less normal for all three towns in the district with Kurseong again receiving the heaviest rain. The only  landslide which took place in Darjeeling was in the town on 24/25Aug2011 with no casualties. It was a different in west Sikkim where a landslide killed 3 during the heavy downpour of the same period. In both cases it was not only the heavy rainfall which caused the landslides - anthropogenic factors such as road construction and lack of drainage were also the main causative factors.
Regrettably, I could not get either the rainfall data nor photos from the landslide in West Sikkim

Praful Rao

Garbage dump landslides

You can read more about the garbage dump landslide in the Philippines in Dr David Petley's blog here and I have covered the Alaichikhop landslides in this blog here

Landslide in Darjeeling town (25Aug2011)

What is worth noting is that we have not have continuous heavy showers in this region in Aug2011 and as such we have had virtually no major landslides during this month in Darjeeling district. 
Also, it was extremely fortunate that the above landslide took place sometime past midnight this morning and as such we had no casualties in an area (located  below the famous, heritage Windamere Hotel)  which is otherwise thronging with tourists and pedestrians all thru the day.

Rainfall in Darjeeling on 24Aug2011: 129mm
Rainfall in Kalimpong on 24Aug2011 : 6mm
Rainfall in Gangtok on 24Aug2011 : 7mm

Photo Credit : Mr Mohan Lama, Darjeeling

Praful Rao

A quick way to check the weather : Google Maps

Google has just updated the Google Maps with a weather overlay that provides users with current weather condition around the world and forecasts for the next five days as well.
All one has to do is go to our area of the world and select the weather layer on the top right hand corner of the page to get the picture shown above.
The weather reports on Google Maps’ are sourced from weather.com and  U.S. Naval Research Lab empowers the feature that shows cloud coverage on the map.
For people who want a more detailed satellite images and forecast I still suggest the IMD website

Praful Rao

A great NEW website from IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) website and its many links provides a wealth of information about rainfall throughout the country along with satellite images - the latter being useful for early warning about the onset of adverse weather phenomena.
I just came across a NEW (judging by the number of hits till date) website which give updates from the numerous Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rainfall Gauges (ARGs) installed by the IMD all over the country. It is great to have such tools to monitor weather and rainfall. The website is here

Praful Rao

Rainfall data July 2011

Since most landslides in our area are rain induced, keeping a tab of the rainfall in the Darjeeling district is one of our roles. 
In Jul2011 in keeping with the clear trend which is emerging,  Kurseong received the heaviest rain followed by Darjeeling and then Kalimpong. Mercifully, few landslides ( see here and here )were recorded and there were no fatalities.
Starting August we will include the rainfall data of Gangtok also in the above chart.

Praful Rao

Landslide update (Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya) : 20Jul2011

The rainfall data (for the past 24hrs) from the 3 Automatic Rainfall Gauges (ARGs) at Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong reveals that it rained heaviest in Darjeeling (200mm+), followed by Kurseong (110mm+) and then by a rather dry Kalimpong (50mm).
The landslides which resulted are shown above.

Photo credits :-
Darjeeling Town  - Mr Mohan Lama (Darjeeling)
NH31A - Mukesh

Praful Rao

STH activities Jul2011

Praful Rao