SRINAGAR: Climate change and anthropogenic factors are contributing to the rising risk of extreme rainfall, cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in the Himalayan region, the Union Government has told the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of Home Affairs said assessments by weather experts, scientific institutions and State authorities indicate that the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events are increasing in the Himalayan region as a consequence of climate change. The Ministry said accelerated snowmelt and moraine instability were contributing to off-season slope failures and increased runoff in high-altitude areas. It will also recommend long-term measures to minimise the impact of cloudbursts and other disasters in the Himalayan State. The Centre’s response assumes significance for the wider Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir, where intense rainfall, cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides have repeatedly posed risks to lives, infrastructure and connectivity.