What is a cloudburst? The rare and intense weather event blamed for deadly India flash flood

Meteorologists say that complex processes combine to create cloudbursts, which can have life-threatening consequencesAbout 100 people missing as flash flood tears through town in northern IndiaA so-called "cloudburst" has been identified as a potential cause of a river of sludge that swamped a village in northwest India, killing at least four people and leaving 100 more missing.The Indian Meteorological Department said on Wednesday that over the previous 24 hours extreme rainfall of 210 mm or more had been recorded in parts of northwest India, including the state of Uttarakhand where the disaster happened. Uttarakhand state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the area had been hit by a "cloudburst" before the deluge of water and debris swamped the village at Dharali. Continue reading...