Extremely heavy rain triggered a series of landslides in Wayanad district which lies in the Western Ghats.
- Western Ghats is the 2nd most vulnerable region to landslides in India after Himalayas.
- Western Ghats triggers frequent landslides in Monsoon due to the high soil depth and steep slope.
- High soil depth allows more water retention and an increased porewater pressure ultimately leading to landslides.
About Landslides
- Definition: Landslides occur when gravity forces pushing on hill slope material exceed the frictional forces holding the material in place, causing slope failure.
- Approximately 0.42 million sq. km (12.6% of land area), excluding snow covered area, is prone to landslide hazard in India. (Geological Survey of India(GSI))
- Causes:
- Natural: Undercutting of slopes due to flooding or excavation, earthquakes, snowmelt etc.
- Anthropogenic: Overgrazing by cattle, soil erosion due to deforestation, terrain cutting and filling, etc.
- Effect: Floods due to diversion of river courses or channel blockages, Disruption of traffic, etc.
- Challenges in Monitoring/Prevention: Unlike other disasters that are largely controlled by macro or regional factors, landslides are largely controlled by highly localized factors.
- Hence, gathering information and monitoring the possibilities of landslide is not only difficult but also immensely cost-intensive.
Key Initiatives
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