When The Ground Shifts

We cannot stop natural disasters but we can army ourselves with knowledge, so many lives wouldn't have to be lost.

Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters, occurring when masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope due to gravity. They are often triggered by a combination of natural factors such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and human-induced activities like deforestation, mining, and construction on unstable land. Recent landslides across the globe, such as those seen in parts of Asia, South America, and the U.S., underscore the growing risks posed by climate change and unsustainable land management practices.

Causes of Landslides

1. Rainfall and Flooding: Heavy rainfall is a leading cause of landslides, particularly in regions with steep terrain and loose soils. When the ground becomes saturated with water, it loses its cohesion, making it prone to sliding. In regions experiencing prolonged rains, like monsoon areas in Southeast Asia or tropical zones, landslides are common.

2. Earthquakes: Quaky activity can shake the ground, destabilizing slopes and triggering landslides. In earthquake-prone regions like Nepal, Japan, and parts of California, landslides often follow significant tremors.

3. Volcanic Activity: Volcanic eruptions can cause landslides by shaking the ground or producing hot ash that rapidly melts ice, creating a flow of debris and water known as a lahar.

4. Human Activity: Deforestation, unregulated mining, and construction on unstable slopes disrupt natural drainage systems and weaken the soil. When trees are removed, the roots that once held the soil together are gone, making landslides more likely.

5. Slope Erosion: Riverbanks, coasts, and road cuts often suffer from erosion, which can weaken slopes over time. Erosion removes the supporting material at the base of the slope, reducing its stability.

Landslides have devastating impacts, both immediate and long-term .Landslides often occur suddenly, burying homes, roads, and entire communities under debris. The death toll can be significant, especially in densely populated areas. For example, a recent landslide in northern India claimed dozens of lives, exacerbated by poor early warning systems and rapid urban expansion.The destruction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings results in substantial financial losses. It also disrupt transportation networks, cutting off communities and hindering emergency response.It strip away vegetation, leading to soil erosion and habitat destruction. The loss of trees and other plants can have long-term ecological consequences, affecting biodiversity and local ecosystems.Landslides can dam rivers, creating lakes that may later burst and cause flooding downstream. In some cases, landslides also trigger tsunamis, particularly in coastal or island areas. In regions with frequent landslides, people are often forced to relocate to safer areas. This displacement disrupts lives, communities, and livelihoods, especially in rural areas dependent on agriculture.

Recent landslides in India were caused by a mix of heavy rains and other factors:

1. Himachal Pradesh (August 2024):Intense monsoon rains made the soil very wet, leading to landslides. The steep and unstable land made the situation worse. This occured at two places : Mandi. Kinnaur which killed more than 10 people.

2. Uttarakhand (July 2024):Continuous heavy rains caused soil erosion, increasing landslide risk. Deforestation in the area also weakened the land's stability. Nearly, 6 people have been killed and over 1500 tourists were stranded. Surging water levels in Teesta River have led to the collapse of an old suspension bridge and a newly constructed Bailey bridge at Sanklang. They constructed the bridge within 72 hours to restore connectivity lost due to recent floods in the state.

3. Sikkim (June 2024): Monsoon rains made the soil too wet, and the mountainous landscape made landslides more likely.

4. Karnataka (July 2024) : The landslide occurred on National Highway 66 in Ankola taluk of Uttar Kannada.Due to the landslide, an LPG tanker parked by the roadside was pushed into the adjacent Gangavali river and was washed away.

5. Wayanad: On July 30, 2024, a series of landslides hit the villages of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The landslides were triggered by heavy rains and left hundreds of people trapped, and destroyed houses and trees.

6. Sikkim (June 2025) : The landslide occured in an army camp at Chaten in the Lachen district. It is believed that 9 people have been killed.

In all these cases, the combination of heavy rain, challenging land conditions, and human activities like deforestation played a major role in the landslides.

It is always one's virtue and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.