<p>Small and medium-sized towns in the high mountain regions of South Asia are characterized by rapid and mostly unplanned urbanisation processes resulting in increased risk to natural hazards, such as flash floods, landslides and earthquakes. Due to rapid urban expansion, the case study of Kargil, the second largest city of the Union Territory of Ladakh is chosen to identify risk-prone areas. Based on multi-temporal approach using high resolution satellite imagery (Corona, ASTER and PlanetScope), statistical data and repeated field surveys, urban landscape changes are analysed since the 1960s. The population of Kargil town increased from 1,681 in 1961 to 16,338 in 2011, while total population of the entire Kargil district multiplied from 45,064 to 140,802 over the same period. The built-up area of Kargil town has grown from 0.25 km² to 2.30 km² between 1965 and 2020. The mountain region of Kargil is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods. The main highways (NH-1D and NH-301) connecting Kargil with adjacent regions are prone to landslides. Recurring flash floods in the surrounding of Kargil town was observed in the years 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018, which caused massive damages to roads, buildings, and agricultural area. Most recent flash floods occurred in Kargil town (Baroo and Titichumik) and in different rural villages of Chiktan, Suru and Drass in 2022. These settlements are either located along the streams or on low lying banks of the main rivers, Suru, Drass and Wakha; examples include hazard prone areas such as the new bus stand, and Kabadi Nallah on the banks of Suru river and several other new settlements like Silmo colony or Andoo colony in Kargil town. Urban expansion does not only cover the most suitable areas but increasingly sprawls across steep slopes; examples include the new residential areas of Silmo colony, Andoo colony, and Haidery Mohalla. These new urban settlements are extremely prone to natural hazards and question the sustainability of town planning in this mountain region. The central old town, Baroo colony and Poyen colony are already saturated due to unplanned buildings and infrastructural development. The drivers of the urbanization include increasing of urban population, rural-urban migration to the administrative capital of Kargil district, and an increasing mountain tourism sector which led to new constructions of hotels, guesthouses, and arrival of tourists.</p>

Small and medium-sized towns in the high mountain regions of South Asia are characterised by rapid and mostly unplanned urbanisation processes, regularly resulting in an increased risk of urban agglomerations being exposed to natural hazards. After the administrative capital of Leh, Kargil town is the second-largest urban centre in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. This article discusses the development and dynamics of the trans-Himalayan town in terms of its historical development, expansion and population; land use and land cover (LULC) change; and the specific role of tourism. Based on a multi-temporal approach using high-resolution satellite images, statistical data and field surveys, the urban landscape dynamics of Kargil town are analysed. The total population of this town increased almost tenfold from 1681 in 1961 to 16,338 in 2011, which resulted in an increase in the urban population from 3.7% to 11.6%, while the population of the entire Kargil district only tripled from 45,064 to 140,802 over the same period. Migration from rural villages to Kargil town has been a major cause for the construction and growth of new residential colonies and settlements. The built-up area increased more than ninefold from 0.25 km2 (1.3%) to 2.30 km2 (11.7%) between 1965 and 2020. During the same period, irrigated land and hygrophilous vegetation increased considerably from 4.51 km2 (23.0%) to 8.56 km2 (43.6%) due to the construction of new water channels. Similarly, the barren area decreased significantly from 14.88 km2 (75.8%) to 8.78 km2 (44.7%) between 1965 and 2020. Moreover, the massive increase in tourist arrivals has led to the construction of more hotels, guesthouses and travel agencies. These key factors play a significant role in the emergence, growth and development of this high-mountain town.