Page 1 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 390
The Problem of Landslides in India: Causes & Effects
Rakesh Gahlawat
P.G.T. - Geography
G.H.S. – Dhatogra, Block- Pinjore
Distt. Panchkula (Haryana)
Abstract: The fact is that, India has the
highest mountain chain on earth, the
Himalayas, which are formed due to
collision of Indian and Eurasian plate, the
northward movement of the Indian plate
towards Eurasian plate causes continuous
stress on the rocks rendering them friable,
weak and prone to landslides and
earthquakes. Moreover, the slow motion of
the Indian crust, about five cm per year
accumulates stress to which natural disasters
like landslides in Himalayan region are
attributed and some of them make this
region very unique and unparalleled
catastrophe. Likewise, in other parts of India
we have experienced so many disasters like
landslides in recent years. The present
research paper highlights some real and
occurred facts about the problem of
landslides in India.
Keywords: Himalayan Region, Landslides,
Disaster, Eurasian Plate, Catastrophe.
Introduction: Most of the scholars agree
that landslides are among the major hydro- geological hazards that affect large parts of
India besides the Himalayas, the
Northeastern hill ranges, the Western Ghats,
the Nilgiris, the Eastern Ghats and the
Vindhyans, in that order, covering about
fifteen percent of the landmass; but the
Himalayas alone count for landslides of
every fame, name and description- big and
small, quick and creeping, ancient and new.
The Northeastern region is badly affected by
the problem of landslides. Likewise,
landslides in the Darjeeling district of West
Bengal as also those in Sikkim, Mizoram,
Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland and
Arunachal Pradesh pose a very crucial and
chronic problem which causes recurring
economic losses worth billions of rupees as
well as loss of life. In the same manner, a
different variety of landslides which is
characterized by a lateritic cap also poses a
very constant threat to the Western Ghats in
the South, along the steep slopes
overlooking the Konkan coast besides
Nilgiris, which is highly landslide prone.
Page 2 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 391
Therefore, landslides can be considered as
natural disaster in the country.
Research Methodology: The present
research paper is based on the secondary
sources of data collection. Most of the
study material has been taken from the
reference books and official websites. The
research is exploratory in nature. To pace
the study, the researcher has also used
some observational facts.
Research Objectives: This paper aims at the
following objectives:
To know about the concept of
landslide.
To identify the major causes of
landslides.
To point out the effects of
landslides.
What is a Landslide?
A landslide is also known as a
landslip which is a form of mass wasting
including a wide range of ground
movements, such as rockfalls, deep failure
of slopes, and shallow debris flows. We
know it very well that landslide occurs when
the slope changes from a stable to an
unstable condition in a particular region.
Therefore, any change in the stability of a
slope can be caused by a number of factors,
acting together or alone; and landslides can
be triggered by rainfall, snowmelt, changes
in water level, stream erosion, change in
ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity,
disturbance by human activities, or any
combination of these factors.
Causes of Landslides: When we think of
the different types of landslide material like
the different types of ice cream, we come to
conclude that some is smooth and soft; but
thicker and doesn't flow as well, and some
has chunks like nutty boulders and fruity
vegetation. As we might imagine, all these
consistencies would move differently
according to the region and the cause of a
landslide that has to do with the structural
combination of rock, soil and vegetation is
the morphology. If a hillside has lost
vegetation because of a fire for instance,
then the addition of water can cause erosion,
upping the chances for a landslide. It's not
only rain that can cause erosion but flowing
rivers, moving glaciers, and crashing ocean
waves. The geology or strength of the earth
material itself can also be a factor in
landslides. Stronger material is less likely to
break apart and slide down the slope.
Page 3 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 392
Finally, there are human activities that can
expose slopes to erosion and lead to
landslides. Clearing land for agriculture or
construction are some of the human causes
of landslides.
Furthermore, they can also vary in
their extent, with some occurring very
locally and impacting a very small area or
hill slope while others affect much larger
regional areas. The distance travelled by
landslide material can also differ
significantly with slides travelling from a
few cm to many km depending on the
volume of material, water content and
gradient of the slope in a particular area.
Landslides in India have caused fatalities,
environmental degradation and millions of
rupees damage to buildings, roads, railways,
pipelines, communication networks and
agricultural land. Since Although many of
these landslides have resulted from natural
phenomenon, almost half of those causing
death and injury can be attributed to human
activity. Some of the basic types of landslide
movement are as under:
Flow: It is the most destructive and
turbulent form of landslide; because
it has a high water content which
causes the slope material to lose
cohesion, turning it into slurry. They
are channelized by the landscape and
move rapidly.
Slide: It is one of the most common
forms of failure which can be further
divided into translational and
rotational slides. However, rotational
slides are sometimes called slumps
because they move with rotation and
translational slides have a planar, or
two dimensional surface of rupture.
Therefore, slides are most common
when the toe of the slope is undercut
and they have a moderate rate of
movement with the coherence of
retained material, moving largely
intact or in broken pieces.
Fall: It is generally characterized by
a rapid to extremely rapid rate of
movement with the descent of
material characterized by a freefall
period. These are very common in
Himalayan region which are
triggered by earthquakes or erosion
processes.
Topple: It is characterized by the
tilting of rock without collapse, or by
the forward rotation of rocks about a
pivot point. Moreover, topples have
a rapid rate of movement and failure
