Gods and Goddesses of Nainital

A view of Nainital A great Himalayan tragedy took place in the Uttarakhand Himalayas of India this summer when record rains and landslides caused widespread damage and deaths. Some environmentalists predict that due to man made climate change and exploitation of nature more such tragedies; more frequently are likely to take place in future. This is definitely time for all thinkers, scientists, environmentalists, administrators and politicians to sit back and reflect on the future of the Himalayas and come up with new plans and strategies to meet the challenges ahead. Towards this end this note is a humble contribution of the author a scientist and technologist himself with deep links to the Uttarakhand Himalayas to throw up some ideas for further debate and discussion, as included in this note: The Stream of Tourists : A major source of pressure to the Uttarakhand Himalayas is the ever increasing stream of tourists and pilgrims to the region. In the coming years,...

Kedarnath Temple E very year some damage takes place to the road and communication network in the Himalayas due to monsoon rains because of the nature of roads and infrastructure created on steep hillsides. The population of the area is used to it and geared for repairing the damage speedily. However, this year  rains have brought havoc and that too in June, around a month earlier than usual. The intense rains are something of a hundred year record. Numerous roads have been destroyed by landslides in the Himalayan province of Uttarakhand. The numerous streams and rivers that feed rivers that flow into plains of north India have overflowed, destroying bridges and washing riverside buildings into water. It appears that hundred of tourists, perhaps even thousands, locals and pilgrims, may have died (the count is not yet in).  Thousands are trapped at various locations without food or adequate shelter. This time the damage will not be repaired in days or weeks but t...