On August 11, 1997, the quiet valleys of Chirgaon in Himachal Pradesh turned into a nightmare as a cloudburst triggered massive floods and landslides, killing over 200 people. The tragedy was blamed on nature. But in truth, it was a man-made disaster – the result of reckless decisions, unsustainable development, a crisis fuelled by climate change, corporate-led exploitation of fragile mountain regions, and a continued disregard for scientific planning and local knowledge.
Natural disasters don’t become deadly because of rainfall alone – they become disasters when we put people, infrastructure, and entire communities in harm’s way. And we keep doing it, not out of ignorance, but because of deliberate, profit-driven choices.
From Chirgaon to Dharali: Greed, Governance and the Corporate Capture of the Himalayas - The Wire
Since Chirgaon, the warnings have been relentless – from scientists, geologists, and environmentalists. Do not build on floodplains. Do not carve roads through unstable slopes. Do not dam every river for hydropower. Do not clear forests for hotels and highways. And yet, 28 years later, Chirgaon itself is twice as densely inhabited – with government buildings, homes, and a new bus stand standing on the very floodplain that was obliterated in 1997.
disaster relief has become a ritual, performative and reactive. Bulldozers come out after the damage is done. Helicopters drop rations after homes are gone. But the actual prevention is starved of funding, ignored in budgets, and sidelined in policymaking.
This is not incompetence. This is policy by design, to serve corporate interests first, and people last. The Himalayas are no longer treated as ecosystems, they are treated as commodities to be bought, sold, and exploited, no matter the cost.
by O.P. Bhuraita
18/08/2025