Country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 Tsunami

 In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst centered on the North Indian state of Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides in the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

 Fatalities: -About 5,700 (presumed dead) (as of 16 July 2013)  Damages: 365 houses destroyed, 275 houses partially damaged (in Uttarakhand) 4,200 villages affected  Areas affected: India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh) Nepal (Far Western Region, Mid Western Region)

NASA satellite imagery of Northern India on June 17, showing rainclouds that led to the disaster

 From 14 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and adjoining area received heavy rainfall, which was about 375 percent more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon. This caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 meters, and eruption of the Mandakini River which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Tibet.

Landslides, due to the floods, damaged several houses and structures, killing those who were trapped. The heavy rains resulted in large flashfloods and massive landslides. Entire villages and settlements such as Gaurikund and the market town of Ram Bada, a transition point to Kedarnath, have been obliterated, while the market town of Sonprayag suffered heavy damage and loss of lives.

 Pilgrimage centers in the region, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, the hallowed Hindu Chardham (four sites) pilgrimage centers, are visited by thousands of devotees, especially after the month of May onwards. Over 70,000 people were stuck in various regions because of damaged or blocked roads. People in other important locations like the Valley of flowers, Roopkund and the Sikh pilgrimage centre Hemkund were stranded for more than three days.

 Although the Kedarnath Temple itself had not been damaged, its base was inundated with water, mud and boulders from the landslide, damaging its perimeter. Many hotels, rest houses and shops around the temple in Kedarnath township were destroyed, resulting in several casualties. The temple will be temporarily closed to regular pilgrims and tourists for a year or two

Kedarnath Dham After & Before

 The Army, Air Force, Navy, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Public Works Department and local administrations worked together for quick rescue operations. Several thousand soldiers were deployed for the rescue missions. Activists of political and social organizations are also involved in the rescue and management of relief centers. The national highway and other important roads were closed to regular traffic.

 Prime Minister of India undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas and announced 1000 crore aid package for disaster relief efforts in the state. Several state governments announced financial assistance, with Uttar Pradesh Government pledging 25 crore the governments of Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi 10 crore each, the governments of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh 5 crore each. The US Ambassador to India extended a financial help of USD $150,000 through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the NGOs working in the area. and announced that the US will provide further financial aid of USD $75,000.

 After the disastrous floods, many of the natives were now living without shelter. Therefore, to help and fund these people, the government and many other NGO's have deciding to lead donation campaigns. One of such campaigns is known as Goonj. Many newspapers and magazines have published articles about these campaigns so that the common people of India can donate some amount of money in order to help these people.

 Unprecedented destruction by the rainfall witnessed in Uttarakhand state was attributed, by environmentalists, to unscientific developmental activities undertaken in recent decades contributing to high level of loss of property and lives. Roads constructed in haphazard style, new resorts and hotels built on fragile river banks and more than 70 hydroelectric projects in the watersheds of the state led to a "disaster waiting to happen" as termed by certain environmentalists.

Kedarnath Dham Before 50Years or More