According to the Indian Meteorological Department, which of the following is/are the feature/features of cloudburst? 1. Heavy precipitation in short period of time in a limited geographical area 2. It occurs generally during monsoon period and triggers flash flood and landslides Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, Both 1 and 2. The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as sudden, very heavy rainfall (commonly taken as more than 100 mm per hour) concentrated over a small area in a short time — so statement 1 is right. Such events typically occur during the monsoon over hilly terrain and often set off flash floods and landslides — so statement 2 is right too. Both features are correct.
- (a)1 only — Statement 2 is also correct — cloudbursts are largely a monsoon-season phenomenon and are notorious for triggering flash floods and landslides, so limiting it to statement 1 is wrong.
- (b)2 only — Statement 1 is also correct — a cloudburst is by definition intense rainfall over a short time in a limited area, so it cannot be excluded.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements accurately describe a cloudburst as per the IMD, so 'neither' is incorrect.
A cloudburst is an extreme, highly localised rainfall event. The IMD treats rainfall of about 100 mm or more in one hour over a small area as a cloudburst. They are driven by strong upward air currents in towering cumulonimbus clouds and occur most often over mountains during the monsoon.
Both given statements restate the IMD's own description — the 'short time, small area, heavy rain' definition and the typical monsoon setting with flash floods and landslides. Because both are textbook-correct, the answer is 'both'. The wrong options each drop one true statement.
- The IMD threshold for a cloudburst is about 100 mm of rain per hour.
- Cloudbursts are intense and localised — heavy rain over a small area in a short time.
- They occur mainly over hilly terrain during the monsoon.
- They frequently trigger flash floods and landslides (e.g. in the Himalayan states).
- Doubting statement 2 despite it restating the standard description of cloudbursts.
- Confusing a cloudburst with ordinary heavy monsoon rain (the intensity threshold matters).
A two-statement 'both correct' question restating the IMD definition and impact of cloudbursts.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
As per the IMD, rainfall of roughly what intensity over a small area is classified as a cloudburst?
- (a)10 mm per hour
- (b)50 mm per hour
- (c)100 mm per hour
- (d)200 mm per hour
Answer(c) 100 mm per hour — the commonly cited IMD threshold.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Cloudbursts are associated with the vertical development of which type of cloud?
- (a)Cirrus
- (b)Stratus
- (c)Cumulonimbus
- (d)Altostratus
Answer(c) Cumulonimbus — towering clouds with strong updraughts.