Why the 2013 Uttarakhand Floods Must Be Remembered

Increasing number of disasters in the region  

On June 16, 2013, Uttarakhand witnessed one of the most devastating disasters in its history. Unprecedented rainfall, measuring 385.1mm - over 440% above the normal for the onset of the monsoon - triggered catastrophic floods and landslides. The deluge, intensified by a cloudburst and a glacial lake outburst flood, caused the Chorabari Lake near Kedarnath to overflow, unleashing torrents of water and debris downstream. The disaster claimed over 6,000 lives, stranded more than 100,000 pilgrims and tourists, and obliterated infrastructure across the state.

The immediate response involved massive rescue operations. The Indian Army launched Operation Surya Hope, deploying over 10,000 troops, while the Indian Air Force initiated Operation Rahat, which became one of the largest civilian rescue missions by air, evacuating nearly 20,000 people and delivering essential supplies. Despite these efforts, the scale of the disaster exposed significant shortcomings in preparedness and early warning systems. Although the India Meteorological Department had issued alerts, communication breakdowns and a lack of coordinated action led to delayed evacuations and increased casualties.

A school in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, rebuilt as part of SEEDS’ post-disaster recovery efforts following the 2013 floods. Along with safety-focused infrastructure adapted to the hilly terrain, SEEDS has also conducted mock drills to help students prepare for emergencies.

Amid this chaos, civil society efforts helped plug the gaps. Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), one of the first responders, focused on urgent unmet needs - supporting women’s privacy in overcrowded shelters and helping families who had dry rations but no means to cook them. Over 190 of the most vulnerable families in Rudraprayag received family tents and utensil kits. Makeshift schooling was enabled with temporary tents and cooking provisions for mid-day meals.

Students outside a newly rebuilt school in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Reconstructed by SEEDS in the aftermath of the 2013 floods, the facility is designed to be climate-resilient and safe for children in this high-risk seismic and landslide-prone zone.

With many schools either damaged or reduced to rubble, children’s education was severely disrupted - leaving students without safe spaces to learn or gather. In the months that followed, the organisation went on to rebuild 18 schools across Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, using earthquake-resilient, lightweight materials that doubled as safe spaces and community hubs. The effort also included disaster preparedness training for over 2,000 students and residents, laying the groundwork for a more informed and resilient response in future emergencies.

While these efforts brought some stability to pockets of the affected region, the broader picture across Uttarakhand was far more sobering. The state’s tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure was shattered. Roads, schools, health centres, and water supply lines had to be rebuilt from scratch. The psychological toll on survivors, especially those who lost entire families, still lingers.

An evacuation plan being installed at Rajkiya Ucchatar Prathmik Vidyalaya, Karokhi, Ganganagar, Rudraprayag - one of the schools reconstructed by SEEDS after the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, with support from Ambuja Cement Foundation.

Long-term effects extended beyond physical loss. For months, communities faced food shortages and lack of healthcare. Livelihoods dependent on tourism took years to recover. Many survivors left the hills entirely, their ancestral homes abandoned. For a while, Kedarnath became a symbol of resilience - but also a grim reminder of the consequences of ignoring environmental limits.

The 2013 tragedy was a national wake-up call. There was a noticeable shift in how disasters were managed - more satellite monitoring, improved coordination between agencies, and the setting up of early warning systems in vulnerable regions. Looking back over the past 12 years, these steps represent meaningful progress. Yet, the increasing frequency of disasters in Uttarakhand signals that long-term, community-based resilience is still a work in progress.

This has become clear through recurring climate-related disasters. In 2021, a glacier broke off in Chamoli, unleashing a sudden surge in the Rishi Ganga river, destroying hydropower projects and claiming over 200 lives. In 2023, Joshimath made headlines for land subsidence - homes cracking open, roads warping, and families being evacuated.

In 2024, heavy rainfall triggered landslides across several regions, including Tingad village in Tehri district, where over 35 homes were destroyed and two schools deemed unsafe. SEEDS, which has been active in Uttarakhand since the 2013 floods, supported efforts to ensure children could continue learning. Working with local communities, they helped set up temporary classrooms on donated land, with basic sanitation and clean drinking water facilities. It was a small but necessary step toward restoring normalcy as families began to rebuild.

In fact, Uttarakhand’s history of disasters goes back decades. In 1970, a cloudburst over the Alaknanda Valley caused massive floods that wiped out villages and altered river courses. In 1998, a landslide in Malpa buried an entire village, killing over 200 people including several pilgrims. In 2012, just a year before Kedarnath, cloudbursts caused flash floods that disrupted the Char Dham Yatra and claimed several lives. Each time, warnings were issued. Each time, the state returned to business as usual once the water receded.

Uttarakhand sits in a seismically active, ecologically fragile zone. Yet, construction continues on precarious slopes, forests make way for highways, and rivers are redirected for energy. Climate change only intensifies these risks - melting glaciers, short spells of heavy rain, and unseasonal heat are now common. Despite clear patterns, these disasters are often labelled ‘low’ or ‘medium’ impact events, downplaying the long-term consequences.

What happened in June 2013 was not an anomaly. It was a warning. And unless we treat it as such - changing how we build, how we prepare, and how we respect the Himalayas - it will not be the last.