Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1144

Impact of Natural Disaster on the Tourism

Possibilities Case Study of Himachal Pradesh
Lessia Pebam1 Ajay Kumar Gautam2
Student of Tourism and Travel Management, Assistant Professor of Tourism and Travel Management,
CT Institute of Hospitality Management, Shahpur, CT Institute of Hospitality Management, Shahpur,
Jalandhar Punjab, India Jalandhar, Punjab, India

Amom Anjali Devi3 Manpreet Kaur4

Student of Travel and Tourism Management, Assistant Professor of Tourism and Travel Management,
CT Institute of Hospitality Management, Shahpur, CT Institute of Hotel Management, Shahpur,
Jalandhar Punjab, India Jalandhar Punjab, India

Abstract:- In both India and globally, all three sectors Keywords:- Natural Disaster, Disaster Management,
play pivotal roles in GDP production. The service sector, Himachal Pradesh, Infrastructure.
among them, has exhibited notable growth in recent
years. An integral segment within the service and I. INTRODUCTION
industrial domains is the tourism industry, which has
flourished over an extended period, presenting ample Climate and disasters are inherently linked, as climatic
opportunities for related sectors. India's economic factors strongly influence the occurrence of disasters such as
advancement has significantly benefited from its thriving floods, cloudbursts, droughts, cyclones, and storms. The
tourism industry, which attracts a substantial influx of Indian subcontinent experiences unique climatic and
domestic and international travelers for both business weather conditions, with 80 percent of the total annual
and leisure purposes. Beyond contributing to the revenue rainfall occurring in just three months during the highly
of towns and nations, tourism fosters local employment variable monsoon season, often accompanied by extreme
opportunities and showcases India's rich heritage sites, rainfall events. This erratic rainfall pattern results in floods
festivals, and natural landscapes, all of which are highly in some regions and droughts in others simultaneously,
esteemed by visitors. making flood occurrences a regular feature of the Indian
landscape.
For numerous years, natural and human-induced
disasters have adversely impacted the nation's tourism Approximately 12 percent of the country's land area is
sector. People bear the brunt of these calamities, susceptible to floods, with an average of 8 million hectares
experiencing severe disruptions in their social and affected annually, contributing to One out of every five
economic lives. The states of Uttarakhand and Himachal worldwide death toll As a result of flooding. Floods have
Pradesh, known for their vibrant tourism industry, fall wreaked havoc in recent years, with notable incidents
within India's disaster-prone zones. A robust economy is including the Himachal Floods (2023), Uttarakhand flood
vital for the tourism sector, which is relatively (2013), Leh flood (2010), floods along the Ganga in Uttar
susceptible to fluctuations, to flourish. The response of Pradesh (2010), and Mumbai floods (2005). Particularly in
the tourism industry to such disasters underscores its hilly regions, torrential rains not only trigger flash floods but
vulnerability to abrupt changes in the local economy. also induce landslides and erosion. Flash floods in states like
Himachal Pradesh are sudden and often Caused by very
This thesis underscores prior research indicating severe events Examples include heavy rainfall, sudden
that both natural and human-induced disasters can bursts of rain, glacial lake overflow, and dam breaches.
detrimentally affect employment within the tourism
sector. Focusing predominantly on economic Understanding the behavior of such phenomena is
ramifications, the paper delves into disasters occurring crucial for developing effective management strategies,
over the past two decades, with particular emphasis on beginning with a review of historical data to comprehend
the significant impact of the 2023 floods in Himachal past occurrences and envision future scenarios. Examining
Pradesh, which reverberated across northern India. past disasters helps identify their spatial and temporal
Seniors' exposure, sensitivity, and capacities when patterns, impacts on development, underlying causes, and
combined with potentially dangerous situations might cause-and-effect relationships. Historical information forms
severely impair their ability to function normally. It the basis for hazard modeling, aiding in the prediction and
affects people in a socioeconomic, psychological, and estimation of threats posed by hazards to people and places.
physical way. The Depending on their age group, the This study delves into the past behavior of floods and their
disaster's impact could be different in degree. impacts in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh,

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Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1144

examining events through a spatial and temporal lens. The the old town of Sirmaur”. Another notable incident occurred
tourism industry, known for generating employment, in 1836 when a glacial lake outburst from the Shigri glacier
contributing to GDP, and serving as a significant source of in Lahaul and Spiti district caused significant damage to the
national income, plays a pivotal role in Uttarakhand's Chandra River valley. Although historical records lack
economy. However, the aforementioned threats have led to precise details of the damage caused, there are accounts of
economic challenges for the state. These issues adversely guards being stationed at the Kunzum pass to prevent water
impact the tourism and hospitality sectors, disrupt overflow into Spiti due to the damming of the Chandra
communities, dampen spirits, destroy livelihoods, tarnish the River.
area's attractiveness, and diminish revenue streams.
However, discrepancies exist in historical accounts,
 Study Area particularly regarding the formation and consequences of the
Himachal Pradesh, located in the Western Himalayan Shigri glacier outburst. While some accounts describe the
region, spans from 30º22' to 33º15' N latitude and 75º4' to formation of a large lake that eventually burst, causing
79º E longitude, with elevations ranging from 350 to 7000 devastation downstream, the feasibility of such an
meters above mean sea level. The state is divided into three occurrence, given the high altitude and geographical
distinct physiographic zones: the Siwaliks, the constraints, is questioned. Descriptions by Harcourt in 1871
Lesser/Middle Himalayas, and the Greater Himalayas, with refer to a catastrophic event in the Chandra River valley
relief increasing from southwest to northeast. This variation caused by the spreading of the Shigri glacier across the river
in relief results in diverse climates, ranging from tropical in approximately eighty years earlier. Nevertheless, uncertainty
the lower hills to temperate in the middle Himalayan region arises as discrepancies in the dates of flood occurrences cast
and cold desert-like conditions in the Greater Himalayan doubt on whether both descriptions pertain to the same
region. event.

Himachal Pradesh is part of the dynamic and complex Floods have long been a recurring and highly
Himalayan region characterized by highly variable climates. destructive phenomenon in the Kullu Valley, with one of the
The monsoon rainfall, concentrated over two to three earliest recorded instances of devastating flooding along the
months in the western Himalayas, largely influences the Beas River occurring in 1894. This event was triggered by
climate. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 350 to 3800 the damming of a rivulet due to avalanches, resulting in a
mm, with 70 percent occurring during the monsoon season catastrophic flash flood that wreaked havoc downstream.
(July-September). The winter rainy season (December to Historical records from the Punjab District Gazetteers
mid-March) contributes 20 percent of the total annual highlight the destructive impact of floods in the narrow and
rainfall. On average, Himachal Pradesh receives 1111 mm of steep valleys and glens of the region. The 1894 flood in the
rainfall annually, with variations ranging from about 450 Phojal nullah stands out as one of the most damaging, with
mm in Lahaul & Spiti to over 3,400 mm in Dharamsala of rocks and ice brought down by avalanches blocking the
Kangra district. Rainfall generally increases from the plains narrow gorge, leading to extensive damage. Reports indicate
to the hills, but beyond the Pir Panjal range, it decreases that around 200 people and numerous livestock were swept
towards Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur districts. away in the disaster. Investigations conducted at the time
revealed no evidence of deforestation, but significant slope
Flooding, once solely a natural hazard, has evolved failure and stream course blockage were identified as
into a hybrid of natural and man-made dangers due to contributing factors to the flood. The historical
increased human intervention in river systems. Activities documentation of flood havoc extends to the Yamuna and its
such as deforestation, alterations in river courses, tributaries, with records of a particularly severe flood in
construction of bridges and dams, and the development of 1924, during which the Yamuna rose to record heights,
hydroelectric projects have contributed to this shift. A causing damage to several villages and sweeping away
poignant example of this transformation is the 2013 Flash arable lands in the Paonta tahsil. Additional instances of
Flood that struck Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and devastating flash floods include those occurring in the Kullu
adjacent areas. Valley in 1902 and 1945, as well as along the Swan River in
Una district in 1947, as reported by The Tribune. These
II. REVIEW AND LITERATURE events underscore the recurring nature and widespread
impact of flooding in the region over the years.
In The earliest documented instance of flash floods
traces back to 1803 when a seismic event of high intensity During the 1970s, floods became a recurrent and
triggered numerous landslides, resulting in river blockages severe occurrence in Himachal Pradesh, with incidents
and subsequent floods that inflicted severe damage in the recorded in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1978. Among
Bilaspur, Nahan, and Jubbal areas. “According to historical these, the 1971 floods in Swan Khad, Una district, stood out
accounts, an earthquake-induced landslide in Bhaji as particularly devastating, surpassing even the 1947 flood
temporarily dammed the Sutlej River, forming a lake several in severity. The floods caused extensive destruction,
hundred feet deep. This led to the sweeping away of several especially along the Ravi, Beas, and Satluj rivers during
villages and the complete destruction of Bilaspur. Similarly, August 1971. Reports indicated that 21 people lost their
folklore from the history of Nahan and Jubbal mentions the lives, with numerous cattle and crops destroyed.
damming of the Giri River, resulting in the obliteration of

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Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1144

Additionally, two entire villages were swept away in the life, damage to property, and disruption of livelihoods across
Pong dam area, with over twelve people reported missing. various districts in the state.

The monsoons of 1977 wreaked havoc in Una and The damage caused by floods in 2007, in particular,
Kullu districts, resulting in a loss of 12.95 crore rupees to was among the deadliest in the state's recent history, with
the state exchequer. The Swan River claimed the lives of large-scale destruction of roads, agricultural crops, and
fifteen individuals and damaged 1500 houses in Una district, residential areas. In 2008, flash floods affected districts like
while the Sarwari River paralyzed normal life in Kullu town Chamba, Kangra, Una, Solan, and Sirmaur, claiming
and its surrounding areas. In 1978, floods claimed 281 lives numerous lives, destroying crops and fruit plantations, and
and inundated large parts of Solan, Kinnaur, Chamba, Kullu, causing extensive damage to infrastructure. Despite a
Una, and Bilaspur districts. Over 300 people and 400 cattle reduction in rainfall in 2009, sporadic incidents of floods
lost their lives during this period, with significant damage to still occurred in various districts, indicating the persistent
both public and private property. Although the state threat posed by floods in Himachal Pradesh.
experienced a relative respite from heavy rains during the
1980s, flash floods still occurred in the Beas, Satluj, and  Spatio-Temporal Concentration of Floods: 1971-2009
Ravi Rivers, claiming 64 lives in various incidents. The The historical trends in flood frequency reveal a degree
years 1985 and 1988 saw an increase in flood incidents, with of unpredictability, with periods of both high and low flood
severe damage reported in lower districts such as Mandi, frequency observed in the past. However, there has been an
Kangra, Hamirpur, and Una. overall increase in flood incidents from 1971 to 2009, as
depicted in Figure 1. Over the last four decades, the state has
The 1990s marked a period of intensified flooding, experienced a total of 362 flood events, with a significant
especially between 1992 and 1996, affecting districts such as concentration occurring in the last two decades, particularly
Kinnaur, Lahaul & Spiti, Mandi, and Chamba. The state during the mid-1990s. Subsequently, there was a decline in
witnessed widespread floods in July 1993, with breaches in flood events during the following decade.
the Swan River submerging 900 houses and 25000 acres of
land, leading to casualties and significant damage. The turn Among the affected districts, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu,
of the millennium brought about even more severe floods, and Chamba have consistently faced the brunt of flooding
particularly in 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2007. In 2000, over the last four decades. Kullu emerged as the most
devastating flash floods in the Sutlej River claimed over 150 severely affected district, followed by Kangra, Mandi, and
lives, destroyed property worth over 1000 crore rupees, and Chamba. Together, these four districts account for
caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including power approximately 54 percent of the total flood events recorded
projects and bridges. The years 2001, 2005, and 2007 also during the last four decades.
witnessed significant flooding events, resulting in loss of

Fig 1 Annual Flood Frequency (1971-2009)

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Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1144

Table1 District Wise Decadal Occurrence of Floods (1971-2009)

1971-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 Total
District Event (Per cent) Event (Per cent) Event (Per cent) Event (Per cent) Events Per cent
Kullu 10 (15.87) 3 (8.22) 28 (18.42) 16 (14.16) 57 15.75
Kangra 6 (9.52) 9(26.47) 21(13.82 18(15.93) 54 14.92
Mandi 5(7.94) 3(8.82) 28(18.42) 9(7.96) 45 12.43
Chamba 5(7.94) 3(8.82) 16(10.53) 14(12.39) 38 10.50
Kinnaur 1(1.59) 3(8.82) 14(9.21) 16(14.16) 34 9.39
Shimla 9(14.29) 2(5.88) 12(7.89) 11(9.73) 34 9.39
Una 5(7.94) 5(14.71) 11(7.24) 4(3.54) 25 6.91
Sirmaur 8(12.70) 0 2(1.32) 9(7.9610 19 5.25
Hamirpur 1(1.59) 4(11.76) 7(4.61) 6(5.31) 18 4.97
Solan 8((12.70) 1(2.94) 1(0.66) 7(6.19) 17 4.70
Bilaspur 5(7.94) 0 9(5.92) 2(1.77) 16 4.42
Lahaul & Spiti 0 1(2.94) 3(1.97) 1(0.88) 5 1.38
State Total 63 (100) 34(100) 152(100) 113 (100) 362 100.00
Source: Compiled from Daily Newspaper the Tribune (1971-2009)

 Impact of Floods on Human Population

Over the past four decades, Himachal Pradesh has endured numerous devastating floods, resulting in the loss of 868 lives.
However, these fatalities were concentrated in specific years and regions.

Fig 2 Himachal Pradesh Flood Frequency (1971-2009)

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Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1144

A staggering 753 individuals, accounting for 86.75% of with 88 deaths attributed to floods. Fatalities occurred across
the total deaths, succumbed to floods during just seven all districts, albeit with varying magnitudes. Shimla district
years: 1971, 1973, 1978, 1988, 1995, 1997, and 2000, as bore the brunt of flood-related deaths, with 372 individuals
depicted in Figure 3. While the temporal trend indicates no perishing over the four decades. Other highly vulnerable
significant change in the pattern of flood-related fatalities, districts include Solan, Una, and Kangra. Significant inter-
the 1990s emerged as the deadliest decade, witnessing 403 district disparities were observed in decadal casualties.
deaths, whereas the 1980s experienced the fewest fatalities,

Fig 3 Human Casualties by Flood (1971-2009)

During the 1970s, Solan and Una districts witnessed substantial loss of life, while Kinnaur and Una bore the brunt during the
1980s. In the 1990s, floods in Shimla district accounted for approximately 80% of the total human lives lost in the state. Similarly,
during 2000-2009, Kinnaur and Shimla districts experienced a disproportionately high proportion of flood-related fatalities.

Table 2 Decadal Distribution of Human Casualties (1971-2009)

1971-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 Total Per cent
District Killed (per cent) Killed (per cent) Killed (per cent) Killed (per cent) Killed
Shimla 11 (4.37) 2(2.27) 321(79.65) 38(30.40) 372 42.86
Solan 121(48.01) 0 5(1.24) 13(10.40) 139 16.01
Una 46(18.25) 31(35.22) 5(1.24) 0 82 9.45
Kinnaur 0 37(42.05) 1(0.25) 42(33.60) 80 9.22
Chamba 8(3.17) 1(1.14) 37(9.18) 4(3.20) 50 5.76
Kangra 12(4.76) 13(14.77) 13(3.22) 11(8.80) 49 5.65
Kullu 24(9.52) 2(2.27) 6(1.49) 8(6.40) 40 4.61
Sirmaur 15(5.95) 0 6(1.49) 3(2.40) 24 2.76
Bilaspur 15(5.95) 0 2(0.50) 2(1.60) 19 2.19
Mandi 0 2(2.27) 5(1.24) 1(0.80) 8 0.92
Bilaspur 0 0 2(0.25) 3(2.40) 4 0.46
Lahaul & Spiti 0 0 1(0.25) 0 1 0.11
State Total 252 88 403 125 868
Source: Compiled from Daily Newspaper the Tribune (1971-2009)

It is evident that each flood event did not result in a isolated events in the 1970s and 1980s to a more sustained
loss of lives; it is only a few select flood events that have presence throughout the 2000s. These occurrences have
been responsible for the maximum loss of life and property. profound impacts on the state's population, environment,
and economy, particularly in the Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and
III. CONCLUSIONS Chamba districts. These areas are most vulnerable along the
Satluj, Beas, Ravi, and Swan rivers. Primarily triggered by
Floods in Himachal Pradesh pose significant threats to heavy rainfall, floods are most prevalent during the
human life and property, characterized by their episodic monsoon season, though recent years have witnessed an
occurrence. However, post-1990, there has been an increase in pre-monsoon flood activity. This trend is
observable uptick in flood activities, expanding from especially pronounced in the middle and lesser Himalayan

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Volume 9, Issue 3, March – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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regions, characterized by temperate climates and erratic

rainfall patterns, leading to a rise in rainfall-induced
disasters such as floods and cloudbursts. While floods and
flash floods are natural phenomena rooted in physical
factors, their destructive impacts are exacerbated by human
activities. Rapid infrastructure development, urban
expansion, hydro-power projects, and horticultural activities
have encroached upon natural landscapes, heightening the
vulnerability of communities and infrastructure in flood-
prone areas. This increasing vulnerability, compounded by
higher population densities and intensified anthropogenic
activities, underscores the potential for catastrophic
outcomes in the event of a disaster.

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