Take a look at the 5 factors that trigger landslides in India:
1. Deforestation
Human interference is one of the major causes of landslides in India. Deforestation is one such phenomenon which may trigger landslide. For example, the Himalayan region has become more vulnerable to landslides due to the indiscriminate cutting of trees.
Removal of trees reduces the binding properties of soil and rocks. This enables the water to seep into the sub-surface, making the topsoil vulnerable. Even GSI confirmed that increased deforestation is one of the reasons for landslides in Western Maharashtra and the Konkan region.
2. Shifting Cultivation
Shifting cultivation is common in hilly regions and Northeast areas. Every year, residents burn the forests for cultivation purposes. However, this deteriorates the quality of topsoil, causing erosion during heavy rainfall. This makes such regions more vulnerable to landslides.
3. Heavy Rainfall and Earthquakes
Above 40% of the Kumaon Himalayan region are vulnerable to landslides due to earthquakes. Additionally, heavy rainfall often causes landslides. For example, heavy rain caused landslides in Talai village of Maharashtra in 2021.
4. Mining
Human activities like mining or quarrying remove the vegetation cover and soil gravel. This lowers the groundwater retention capacity. Also, it increases the risk of flooding. Therefore, landslides occur due to loose debris or excess floods during an earthquake and heavy rainfall, respectively.
5. Urbanisation
Increasing population pressure in few regions of India is alarming. For example, Dharamshala is prone to landslides. It is one of the fastest developing cities in the Himalayan region. Here, intensive urbanisation activities such as establishing commercial housing projects and road construction reduce the vegetation cover. This leads to an increasing frequency of landslides in this region.