{"id":44249,"date":"2023-07-24T08:50:38","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T08:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/?p=44249"},"modified":"2023-07-24T10:48:29","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T10:48:29","slug":"an-update-on-the-19-july-2023-irshalwadi-landslide-and-a-catastrophic-debris-flow-in-bhutan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/2023\/07\/24\/an-update-on-the-19-july-2023-irshalwadi-landslide-and-a-catastrophic-debris-flow-in-bhutan\/","title":{"rendered":"An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide and a catastrophic debris flow in Bhutan"},"content":{"rendered":"

An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide in India<\/h4>\n

The rescue and recovery operation for the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide in India has now been terminated.\u00a0 In total, 27 bodies were recovered.\u00a0 A further 57 people have now been recorded as having been killed but not recovered, leaving a total toll of 84 people, making this the most deadly event of the 2023 Northern Hemisphere monsoon to date.<\/p>\n

The focus us now on those left homeless by the landslide.\u00a0 The Indian Express has an article that notes that commitments have been made to rehouse the survivors<\/a>.\u00a0 I very much hope that this happens, but around the world the record is not good once the focus shifts to the next event.<\/p>\n

[I have removed the image that was originally here as it turns out it was a different landslide].<\/p>\n

Heavy rainfall continues across parts of India, with Uttarakhand being particularly at risk this week.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

The 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Lhuentse, Bhutan<\/h4>\n

Meanwhile, on 20 July 2023 a debris flow hit Ungar in Lhuentse in Bhutan. Whilst this has been reported as a flash flood, the descriptions match that of a debris flow.\u00a0 Khuensel has an article providing the latest information<\/a> – to date seven bodies have been recovered and a further 16 people are missing, with no prospect of survivors.\u00a0 It appears that the debris flow struck a camp that was housing workers from Druk Green Power Corporation.<\/p>\n

“The victims included Druk Green Power Corporation employees like work supervisor, section officer, surveyors, machine operators, electricians, and plumbers.”<\/em><\/p>\n

And<\/p>\n

“Machinery like excavators, air compressors, bumping machines, rod bending and\u00a0 other machines were lost to the flood. The eight private light vehicles were also damaged.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The camp had been established as part of the Yungichhu Hydropower Project<\/a>.\u00a0 I have noted previously that many hydroelectric schemes in the Himalayas pay inadequate regard to the landslide risk<\/a>; this could be another such case.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Google Earth has a site marked as “Yangichu hydroproject campsite” at [27.5263, 91.1281], but I cannot confirm whether this is the location of the disaster.<\/p>\n

Another Kuensel article has a image of the aftermath of the debris flow<\/a>:-<\/p>\n

\"The

The aftermath of the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar village in Bhutan. Image from Khuensel online.<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n

There are reports of cloudburst events in the region at the time, so it is likely that this disaster was caused by localised, very intense rainfall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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