19 th Esri India User Conference 2018 Page 1 of 9 NATURAL HAZARDS, VULNERABILITY AND PREVENTION OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN MIDDLE HIMALAYA, UTTARAKHAND Dr Kuldeep Pareta 1 , and Dr Madhu Joshi 2 1 Manager (Remote Sensing & GIS), 2 Senior Water Resources Engineer DHI (India) Water & Environment Pvt. Ltd., 206, Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-III, New Delhi - 110020. India Abstract: Floods in The Himalayas have influenced the behaviour of rivers in Uttarakhand by changing the bank line, bed level and flow pattern of rivers in various stretches. Heavy downpour and subsequent devastating floods on 15th and 17th June 2013 in the various rivers of Uttarakhand led to heavy loss of lives and property. The event caused instability of the channel by shifting the banks. The main hazards in region related to the rivers are flooding, landslide, soil erosion, and river bank instability. Criteria to identify the vulnerable reaches is based on risk, exposure and hazards in that area. The magnitude of risks due to flood hazards on various exposure along the riverbank is calculated based on qualitatively derived scores. Erosion rendered many locations along the banks vulnerable to economic and human loss. The extent and magnitude of risks have been assessed based on information of past events, rapid field assessments, current mitigation measures and interactions with the locals. The findings from these interactions, and secondary data based on geospatial analysis of bank line changes have been used in the identification of vulnerable reaches of the rivers. The shift in reaches are calculated by digitizing the bank line using satellite imageries of year 2005, 2010 and 2015. Susceptibility of banks and damages by high discharge along bank line are also studied. A fuller understanding will enable decision makers towards more efficient resources management for prevention and mitigation of flood events. Key Words: Vulnerability, landslide, flood, bankline changes, Himalaya, and climate change. About the Author: Kuldeep Pareta Madhu Joshi Dr Kuldeep Pareta has obtained M.Sc. degree in Geography from Dr Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar (MP) in 2001, subsequently Ph.D. in Geomorphology, Hydro-Geology and Remote Sensing from same university in 2005. Presently, he is working as Manager (RS/GIS) in DHI (India) Water and Environment Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, and has have over 17 years of R&D experience in the field of national resource management, geomorphology, hydro-geology, watershed modelling, and national disaster management. He has published over 60 research papers in various referred national and international journals, and four International books. He was conferred Prof. S.M. Ali Memorial Gold Medal in 2001 and MP Young Scientist award in the year 2004. Dr Madhu Joshi is PhD from IIT-Delhi and having sound 20 years of experience in the Numerical Modeling of Coastal processes domain with focus on cyclones and their interaction with atmosphere, ocean currents, tides and waves. She has vast experience in the numerical modeling using POM-2D&3D, MITgcm, TELEMAC-2D&3D, MIKE 21 (Cyclone Model), IIT-D Surge Model SWAN, NGFS, NCUM, NIMO, RCM for CORDEX-6. She possesses good consultancy and research experience with more than 20 publications. She posses good scientific background having working experience with MoES and IIT Delhi, Hydraulic Research Wallingford India. Pvt. Ltd and RMSI Pvt. Ltd. Currently she is working as Sr. Water Resource Engineer in DHI India, one of the largest global modeling firms working in water and environment. E mail ID: kupa@dhigroup.com / majo@dhigroup.com Contact: +91-9871924338 / +91-9968887886