Answer:

Introduction          

Landslides are significant geological occurrences where rock, earth, or debris flows on slopes due to gravity. They can be triggered by natural causes like heavy rainfall and earthquakes or by human activities such as deforestation and construction. According to a GSI (Geological survey of India) study, roughly 12.6% of India’s total land area is located in a hazardous zone that is prone to landslides. 

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Primary factors leading to landslides

• Fragile Ecosystem: For instance, Himalayas’ youthful geology is prone to instability due to ongoing tectonic activities. Landslides here are often a result of natural erosion processes compounded by these geological dynamics.
• Seismic Activity: Earthquakes are a major trigger for landslides in this region. The 2015 Nepal earthquake caused numerous landslides, blocking rivers and leading to further disasters like flood and dam bursts, showing the domino effect of seismic events.
• Hydrological Factors: Continuous and intense rainfall can lead to the saturation of slopes, causing landslides. The 2016 Sikkim landslide serves as an example where prolonged rains weakened mountain slopes, leading to their collapse.
• Deforestation: Forest cover plays a crucial role in maintaining slope stability. The removal of vegetation, as seen in Almora region (Uttarakhand), leads to soil erosion and increased landslide vulnerability.
• Infrastructure Development: The construction of the Char Dham Highway has come under scrutiny as the extensive excavation and cutting through mountains have destabilised slopes, leading to landslides and raising environmental concerns.
• Mining and Quarrying: Activities like mining displace large volumes of earth and can destabilise entire regions. The Bageshwar district landslides are a testament to the hazards of uncontrolled mining.
• Urbanisation: The Leh cloudburst in 2010 was magnified by human settlement patterns that neglected the area’s natural drainage and landslide patterns, illustrating the compounded risks when development is not planned with geographical realities in mind.
• Geological Composition: Limestone regions in the Himalayas are more vulnerable to dissolution by rainwater, making them prone to landslides. The porous nature of limestone can lead to subterranean voids that may collapse, destabilising the surface above.
• Meteorological Phenomena: The convergence of meteorological patterns can lead to extreme weather conditions, as was the case in the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. The excessive rainfall from the clashing of monsoon winds and the Westerly Disturbance caused severe landslides and flash floods.

Impacts of landslides

• Economic Devastation: The economic repercussions of landslides are often severe, the 1998 Malpa landslide in Uttarakhand exemplifies this, where beyond the heartbreaking human toll, the destruction of roads and bridges severely crippled the local economy.
• Human Casualties: The direst consequence of landslides is the loss of human life. The 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, which resulted in thousands of deaths, stands as a grim testament to the lethality of landslides, underscoring the urgency for effective disaster management and early warning systems.
• Destruction of Infrastructure: Infrastructure such as transportation networks and public utilities are often in the direct path of landslides. The 2005 Mumbai landslides damaged property and disrupted the lifelines of the city, demonstrating the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to natural calamities.
• Forced Relocations: In the aftermath of landslides, communities may be compelled to relocate, as occurred in the 2010 Ladakh floods. The dislocation of communities not only has a human cost but also places a strain on social services in receiving areas.
• Altered Water Bodies: Landslides can create natural dams, posing a risk of breakage and subsequent flooding, as was seen with the formation and breach of the Tangjiashan Lake in China. While not in India, this event provides a pertinent example of such landslide-induced phenomena.
• Trade and Communication Barriers: Landslides can cut off critical transportation routes, impeding trade and communication. Eg: landslides in the Northeast of India have repeatedly blocked National Highways, isolating communities and hampering economic activities.
• Tourism Setbacks: Natural disasters including landslides can lead to a steep decline in tourism, an industry vital to many hill regions. Post-disaster recovery is often prolonged, deterring tourists long after the event, as seen in Uttarakhand after the 2013 floods.
• Agriculture and Food Security: The loss of fertile land to landslides can undermine food security, as vital topsoil is swept away, reducing agricultural productivity and impacting livelihoods, as has happened in landslide-prone areas of the Western Ghats.
• Mental Health Consequences: Survivors of landslides often experience long-term psychological impacts, including PTSD and anxiety. The fear of recurring events can haunt residents in areas like Darjeeling, where landslides are frequent, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life.

Effective strategies to mitigate these incidents 

• Risk Assessment and Mapping: This involves identifying potential landslide areas and creating detailed maps that highlight the risk zones. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) undertakes this task by using remote sensing and on-ground surveys seen after the 2015 landslide in Darjeeling. 
• Early Warning Systems: Technological solutions by IMD can help predict landslides and issue timely alerts to local authorities about impending landslides. Eg: Early warning system in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu and Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal. 
• Capacity Building: Training and educating local government bodies, emergency services, and communities to understand and manage landslide risks are vital. Workshops and drills conducted in Sikkim, a state prone to landslides, help prepare the local population and authorities for such events.
• Emergency Response and Rehabilitation: Post-disaster management includes search, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. The NDRF plays a significant role in this, as seen in the 2014 landslide in Pune district’s Malin village, where NDRF teams were promptly deployed for rescue operations.

Conclusion 

The holistic National Landslide Risk Management Strategy reflects India’s commitment to safeguarding life and property. Through continued efforts in risk assessment, early warning systems, capacity building, and effective emergency response, the nation is steadily fortifying its resilience against landslide hazards.