Landslides in India – UPSC Indian Geography Notes

The movement of a mass of rock, rubble, or dirt down a slope is characterized as a landslide. They are a kind of mass wasting, which refers to any downward movement of soil and rock caused by gravity. Landslides affect 15% of Indian landmass, but their susceptibility may increase in the future owing to climate change and population pressures. This increased magnitude can be addressed by taking a multi-pronged approach that addresses all aspects of disaster governance, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation. This article will explain to you the Landslides in India which will be helpful in Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Landslides

• A landslide is a fast movement of rock, soil, and plants down a slope caused by gravity.
• It can be triggered by natural forces like severe rain or an earthquake, or by human tampering with the slope’s stability.
• Human activities such as building roads, trains, houses, and tunnels involve fracturing rocks, making them loose and prone to landslides.
• Landslides encompass various types, including earth flow, mass movement, mudflow, rotating slip, and avalanches.
• While landslides are generally not as large as seismic or volcanic events, their severity and scale depend on the geological structure, slope angle, composition of sedimentary materials, and human involvement.
• Landslides in river valleys can reach the valley bottom, potentially blocking the river channel either partially or completely.
• The accumulated debris from an avalanche that obstructs a river is commonly known as a landslide dam.

Landslides in India

• Danger Impact: Affects at least 15% of India’s land area (approx 0.49 million square Km).
• Geographic Hotspots: Common in geodynamically active areas like the Himalayan and Arakan-Yoma belts, as well as stable regions like the Meghalaya Plateau, Western Ghats, and Nilgiri Hills.
• Nilgiri Hills: Located at the confluence of the Eastern and Western Ghats, prone to landslides due to high-intensity and prolonged rainfall.
• Recent Big Events (2018): Occurred in states like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamenglong-Manipur, and Kalikhola, Manipur.
• Climate Change Impact: IPCC predicts a worldwide temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius, leading to increased glacier melt, water pouring over steep slopes, and more landslides.
• Tectonic Activity in Himalayas: Formed by the collision of tectonic plates, making the Himalayas tectonically active and prone to earthquakes, increasing landslide risk.
• Population Pressure: India, with 2.4% of the world’s land, hosts 17% of the world’s population. Expected population growth until 2050 necessitates more infrastructure in vulnerable areas.
• River Characteristics in Himalayas: Huge rivers in the Himalayan highlands are in their infancy, performing extensive downcutting, elevating the risk of landslides.

Landslides in India – Natural Causes

• Earthquakes: Trigger a sudden shaking of the earth’s crust, imposing stress on materials and leading to landslides.
• Heavy Rainfall: Major or continuous rainfall can cause substantial landslides on steep slopes as water acts as a lubricant and loosens the material.
• 2013 Uttarakhand Cloudburst: Illustrates the impact, causing massive landslides in the region due to heavy rainfall.

Landslides in India – Anthropogenic Causes

• Infrastructure Development: Construction of roads, trains, and dams in hilly areas can lead to landslides. Example: Konkan Railways in the Western Ghats is a major cause of frequent landslides in the region.
• Mining: Involves removing the earth’s surface for mineral discovery, loosening the material. Explosions in mining are also a factor causing landslides.
• Deforestation: Removal of trees for agricultural and industrial purposes weakens soil grip, increasing the region’s susceptibility to landslides.
• Unsustainable Tourism: Rising tourist numbers in the Himalayan area demand more infrastructure, leading to increased construction and subsequently more landslides.

Consequences of Landslides

• The most traumatic consequence of a landslide is the loss of irreplaceable human and animal life.
• Movement restriction occurs as mud, boulders, and debris create barriers on vital transportation routes like highways and railway lines.
• Infrastructure Damage: Residences, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure are adversely affected during a landslide.
• Economic Losses: Substantial funds are spent on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, mass rehabilitation, and providing relief assistance to affected individuals.
• Water Availability Jeopardized: Landslides in river valleys can block the river channel, forming a landslide dam that may partially or completely obstruct water flow, impacting water availability for nearby residents.

Landslide Management in India

• National Risk Management Strategy for Landslides (2019):
  • Encompasses all aspects of landslide disaster risk reduction and management.
  • Includes hazard mapping, monitoring, early warning systems, awareness programs, capacity building, training, regulations, policies, landslide stabilization, and mitigation.
• Guidelines on Landslide Hazard Management (2009) by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
  • Recommends steps to minimize or reduce danger from landslide risks.
  • Pointers include identifying landslide-prone regions, promoting effective rehabilitation and mitigation methods, and developing institutional capacity through training for geoscientists, engineers, and planners.
• National Organisation of Disaster Management (NIDM):
  • Prominent institute providing Capacity Building support to National and State-level authorities in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Restriction on building and development activities like roads and dams in landslide-prone regions.
  • Agricultural activities confined to lowlands and areas with modest slopes.
  • Control over the growth of large communities in high-vulnerability zones.
  • Promotion of large-scale afforestation programs and bund building to minimize water flow.
  • Advocacy for terrace farming in northeastern hill states where Jhumming (Slash and Burn/Shifting Cultivation) is common.

Conclusion

India faces significant vulnerability to landslides, and while the government may not entirely prevent their occurrence, it can effectively mitigate their negative impact. This involves building strong resilience in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Regions such as the entire Himalayan tract, hills/mountains in sub-Himalayan terrains in North-east India, the Western Ghats, and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu’s Konkan districts are particularly susceptible to landslides.

FAQs on Landslides in India

Question: What is the National Risk Management Strategy for Landslides?

Answer: The National Risk Management Strategy for Landslides is a comprehensive approach formulated by the government to address various aspects of landslide disaster risk reduction and management. It includes measures such as hazard mapping, monitoring, early warning systems, awareness programs, capacity building, training, regulations, policies, landslide stabilization, and mitigation. The strategy aims to minimize the negative impact of landslides and enhance the country’s resilience to such geological hazards.

Question: What do you mean by Landslide?

Answer: A landslide refers to the sudden and fast movement of rock, soil, debris, or vegetation down a slope. This movement is typically triggered by factors such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes, human activities, or a combination of these. Landslides can vary in scale and severity, causing significant damage to the environment, infrastructure, and posing threats to human and animal life.

Question: What are the natural causes of landslides in India?

Answer: In India, landslides can occur due to various natural causes. Some of the primary factors include:

1. Heavy Rainfall: Intense or continuous rainfall can saturate the soil, leading to increased instability and triggering landslides, especially in hilly regions.
2. Earthquakes: Seismic activities can induce stress on the Earth’s crust, resulting in landslides in geologically vulnerable areas.
3. Tectonic Activity: Regions with active tectonic processes, such as the Himalayas, are prone to landslides due to the collision of tectonic plates.
4. River Characteristics: Large rivers in hilly terrains, particularly in the Himalayan region, can contribute to landslides through extensive downcutting and erosion.

Understanding these natural causes is crucial for implementing effective mitigation and preparedness measures to minimize the impact of landslides in India.

UPSC PYQ Mains

The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. [UPSC 2016]

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