The tranquility of a Sunday morning was shattered by the devastating news of a glacial avalanche that wiped out a hydroelectric project and the bridges connecting remote mountain villages. Videos capturing the sheer force of the rushing water and ice painted a grim picture of the destruction left in its wake.

The Rishi Ganga Hydel Project, which was completely destroyed, is not on the typical tourist route. It lies in the rugged terrain inhabited year-round by the resilient mountain communities of Raini, Lata, and Malari. Ironically, Raini—the birthplace of the historic Chipko movement led by Gaura Devi and the women of the village—is now the most vulnerable to disaster.

Several factors contributed to the catastrophe of February 7, 2021. From constructing a power plant in a flood-prone gorge to drilling tunnels in geologically fragile regions, human interventions have exacerbated the risks. Climate change has further intensified these dangers, accelerating the melting and movement of Himalayan glaciers at an alarming rate.

A testimony filed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in the Supreme Court acknowledged the role of hydropower projects in the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods. It stated that “the most damage sites in the disaster-affected areas were located either upstream or immediately downstream” from hydropower projects.

Yet, we continue to build power plants in these young, still-growing mountains. Large-scale deforestation, massive four-lane highways to pilgrimage sites, and an influx of plastic waste—without proper disposal or recycling systems—are further destabilizing this fragile ecosystem.

I am not a geologist, nor an expert in dam construction. But having lived in Uttarakhand’s mountains my entire life, I know one thing for certain: these disasters will keep happening unless we start listening to nature’s warnings.

The Role We All Play

Combating climate change requires global cooperation and policy-level action, but it also demands individual responsibility. We must critically assess our own behaviors and the demands we place on our government.

• How much energy do we consume, and do we truly need as much as we use?
• Are we actively practicing the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle?
• What is our carbon footprint, and how can we minimize it?
• How much water are we using—and wasting?
• Do we really need a four-lane highway to Badrinath and other pilgrimage sites?
• When we visit the mountains, do we respect their delicate ecosystems, or do we leave behind waste and destruction?