Context: Cyclone rain-triggered landslides in the Northeast spotlights need for building resilience to multi-hazard disasters. Six people were killed in West Bengal in incidents triggered by cyclone Remal that struck the coastline on Sunday night.
What makes Landslide a unique disaster?
- They are very localised phenomenon and hence harder to track and study with satellites.
- Lack of data further does not allow the machine learning models to get developed.
Factors which make area susceptible to landslide:
As per Geological Survey of India, about 0.42 million sq.km covering nearly 12.6% of land area of India is prone to landslide. Major landslide prone areas in India:
- Western Ghats and Konkan Hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra)
- Eastern Ghats (Araku region in Andhra Pradesh)
- North-East Himalayas (Darjeeling and Sikkim)
- Northwest Himalayas (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K).
NDMA National Landslide Risk Management Strategy:
- Generation of User-Friendly Landslide Hazard Maps taking local factors into account and integrating it with the risk mitigation plans.
- Development of Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System focussing on multi-hazard EWS as landslide are known to have cascading impacts on the downstream areas. For e.g. a landslide in an area can lead to floods, erosion, deforestation etc.
- Awareness Programmes for the local community regarding steps which they should take or avoid during such disasters.
- Capacity Building and Training of Stakeholders so as to launch an immediate response as and when the calamity hits.
- Structural measures including modifying slope geometry, using chemical agents to reinforce slope material, installing structures such as piles and retaining walls, grouting rock joints and fissures, diverting debris pathways, and rerouting surface and underwater drainage.
- Preparation of Mountain Zone Regulations & Policies