A lahar /ˈlɑːhɑːr/ is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley.
Lahars are extremely destructive: they can flow tens of metres per second (22 mph or more), be 140 metres (460 ft) deep, and destroy any structures in their path. Notable lahars include those at Mount Pinatubo and Nevado del Ruiz, the latter of which killed thousands of people.
A lahar is a volcanic mudflow or debris flow. Lahars have the consistency, viscosity and approximate density of wet concrete: fluid when moving, solid at rest. Lahars can be huge. The Osceola lahar produced by Mount Rainier (Washington) some 5,600 years ago resulted in a wall of mud 140 metres (460 ft) deep in the White River canyon, which covered an area of over 330 square kilometres (130 sq mi), for a total volume of 2.3 cubic kilometres (0.55 cu mi).
A lahar of sufficient size and intensity can erase virtually any structure in its path, and is capable of carving its own pathway, making the prediction of its course difficult. Conversely, a Lahar quickly loses force when it leaves the channel of its flow: even frail huts may remain standing, while at the same time being buried to the roof line in mud. A lahar's viscosity decreases with time, and can be further thinned by rain, but it nevertheless solidifies quickly when coming to a stop.
Lahar Vidhan Sabha constituency (Hindi: लहार विधान सभा निर्वाचन क्षेत्र) is one of the 230 Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. This constituency came into existence in 1951, as one of the 79 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the erstwhile Madhya Bharat state.
Lahar (constituency number 11) is one of the 5 Vidhan Sabha constituencies located in Bhind district. This constituency covers the entire Mihona and Lahar tehsils and part of Raun tehsil
Lahar is part of Bhind Lok Sabha constituency along with seven other Vidhan Sabha segments, namely, Ater, Bhind, Mehgaon and Gohad in this district and Sewda, Bhander and Datia in Datia district.
As a constituency of Madhya pradesh
As a constituency of Madhya Pradesh:
Lahar is a city and a Nagar Panchayat in Bhind district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Lahar is located at 26°07′N 78°34′E / 26.11°N 78.56°E / 26.11; 78.56. It has an average elevation of 275 metres (902 feet). Sports facilities in Lahar include a stadium named after Indira Gandhi.
The history of Lahar can be traced back to the Mahabharat era. It is said that the famous Lakchhagrih, (a palace built up of Lakh, which is a highly inflammable material), was built by the Kauravas for Pandavas at the end of their exile. As the legend goes, Kaurav wanted to kill Pandavas by burning them inside the Lakchhagrih. One can still find the pieces of charred lakh in the outskirts of town.
Nearest Railway Stations are Gwalior(110 km.), Bhind(60 km.) and Jhansi(110 km.). Recently it is connected to the state highway.
As of 2001 India census, Lahar had a population of 28,253. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Lahar has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 50%. In Lahar, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age