Early Warning System for Landslides

The movement of the rocks or debris etc., on a slope downwards, is called a landslide. It is a type of “mass wasting “, which refers to the movement of any mass, soil, or rocks under the influence of gravity. It is one of the natural hazards and can be a disaster if the damages occur in large amounts.

The following measures can be taken in this regard:

Landslides are caused by various factors, which are mentioned below:

• It can be caused because of heavy rain.
• Deforestation is also one of the main reasons for landslides because trees, plants, etc., keep the soil particles compact and due to deforestation, the mountain slopes lose their protective layers because of which the water of the rain flows with unimpeded speed on these slopes.
• It can be caused by earthquakes as well.

For example, in the Himalayas, the tremor occurred because earthquakes unstabilized the mountains, which led to landslides.

• Volcanic eruptions in specific regions can also cause landslides.
• Landslides often occur in mountain regions while making roads and construction; a large number of rocks has to be removed, which can cause landslides over there.
• In the regions of North East India, landslides occur because of shifting agriculture.
• Due to the increasing population, a large number of houses are being created, which leads to the creation of a large amount of debris which can cause landslides.