Kumar, N.; Modi, S. and Kumar, P. (2026) The Kedarnath tragedy of 2013: Intersections of natural fury and human negligence in the Himalayan region. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, pp. 1-13. ISSN 1759-5908
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to critically examine the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy by exploring the interplay between natural disasters and human-induced vulnerabilities in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. It investigates how extreme climatic events, such as cloudbursts and glacial lake outbursts, were exacerbated by unregulated tourism, rampant construction, deforestation and policy negligence. The paper seeks to highlight the urgent need for sustainable development, disaster preparedness and environmental governance in ecologically sensitive regions to prevent similar catastrophes. Through this case study, it also offers insights into disaster risk reduction strategies and policy reforms necessary for mountain resilience in India. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a qualitative research methodology based on secondary data analysis. It examines government reports, academic research papers, media coverage, expert interviews, and environmental assessments related to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster. The approach involves thematic content analysis to identify key human and environmental factors contributing to the tragedy. A case study method is used to explore the disaster's causes, impacts and policy implications in depth. By critically analysing both natural and anthropogenic dimensions, the study aims to draw lessons for improving disaster management, ecological planning and sustainable development in vulnerable mountain regions. Findings – The study finds that the Kedarnath disaster was not solely a natural calamity but a compounded crisis driven by climate change, unregulated tourism, deforestation and weak governance. Poor early warning systems and inadequate disaster preparedness intensified the impact. Comparative analysis with similar Himalayan disasters highlights systemic failures in risk-sensitive planning. These findings emphasise the urgent need for sustainable, ecologically informed development strategies. Internationally, the lessons are relevant for other mountainous regions facing climate-induced hazards. Integrating community-based disaster management, enforcing environmental regulations and investing in early warning infrastructure are essential to mitigate future disasters in vulnerable high-altitude environments globally. Originality/value – This study offers a nuanced, interdisciplinary perspective on the Kedarnath tragedy by bridging environmental science, disaster management and policy analysis. Unlike conventional narratives that attribute the disaster solely to natural causes, this research emphasises the critical role of human-induced vulnerabilities and systemic governance failures. It contributes original insights into the socio-ecological dynamics of Himalayan disasters and presents policy-relevant recommendations for sustainable development and risk reduction. The paper adds value by serving as a reference for policymakers, urban planners, environmentalists and disaster management professionals working to enhance resilience in ecologically sensitive mountain regions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change; disaster management; kedarnath; pilgrimage tourism; sustainable development |
| Index terms: | dimension, methodology, India, deforestation, environmental factor, sustainable development, qualitative research, disaster management, dynamics, case study, media, environmental assessment, early warning, strategy, natural disaster, vulnerability, environmental regulation, comparative analysis, research paper, planner, policy analysis, risk reduction, negligence, environmental governance, content analysis, environmental science, governance, disaster risk reduction, climate change, tourism, secondary data, policy implication, narrative, community-based, disaster preparedness, interview |
| Subjects: | environmental impact, liability law, environmental science, financial risk, health safety and environment, climate science, profession, business, policy studies, safety engineering, research dissemination and communication, systems engineering, industry analysis, research methods, management, communities and social development, qualitative and interpretive research, data collection methods, Geography, sociology, health monitoring assessment and metrics, environmental policy, research design and methodology, data analysis and analytics, environmental hazards |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Legal Issues, Information Management, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Governance, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here