Disaster Risk Reduction Around a Heritage Temple Complex in Garhwal Himalaya

Heritage structures are threatened by a multitude of disasters in high-relief, seismically active Himalayan environments. The major risks to the heritage structures are debris flows, landslides, rock falls, cloudbursts, snow avalanches, accelerated erosion, earthquakes, etc. Kedarnath temple, one of the most revered temples of Hindus, located in Garhwal Himalaya, at an elevation of 3562 m, was affected by Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), intense rainfall, and landslides in June 2013.The debris of moraines material moved due to the breach of the upslope glacial lake, not only damaging part of the temple complex but also inundating the temple complex and severely damaging the peripheral buildings of the township. The disaster inflicted colossal loss of life on the hundreds of pilgrims and damaged the township's infrastructure and road network. The deluge was so intense that it changed the course of River Mandakini, the bank on which the temple site is located. The area is part of the Central Crystalline Group of rocks consisting of granites, gneiss, and migmatites and lies close to the North Almora Thrust, and the Main Central Thrust. The terrain exhibits glacial landforms and glacial drift deposits. This study attempts to integrate geological, geomorphologic, and geophysical concepts for identifying the risks and vulnerabilities of the disasters for evolving a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plan around the heritage complex and proposes an alternate site for the townships and other urban features on a glacial terrace in downstream; host of structural measures to channelize the debris flows, drainage movements, protection of river banks, etc. by traditional resilience practices.