Extreme Rainstorm Events over the Northwest Himalayas during 1875–2010

A significant part of northern India is covered by the Himalayas, where a number of major Indian rivers originate. In the present study, a detailed analysis of rainstorms that affected the northwest region of the Himalayas has been made to assess the orographic effect of the Himalayas on precipitation in this region during the 135 years from 1875 to 2010. The study showed that the northwest Himalayas have experienced five most-severe rainstorms whose rain depths have not been surpassed so far. These severe rainstorms caused heavy to very heavy rainfall over the region that led to tremendous destruction to crops, communications, and livestock. Severe rainstorms have not occurred during the 2001–10 decade. It is also noticed that severe floods in this region have not occurred because of a “break monsoon situation” in the middle or eastern Himalayas.