Over 45 per cent of the area in the state of Himachal Pradesh is prone to landslides, floods and avalanches, sparking concerns among climate activists. The revelation was made in a study conducted by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, The Times of India reported.
The findings were released after the team completed a hazard susceptibility mapping of the state. The testing was part of the broader effort by researchers and scientists from multiple IITs to study multi-hazard vulnerability across the Himalayan states. The main aim of the study was to identify the regions that are at high risk from multiple natural hazards occurring simultaneously.
The researchers believe that finding these regions would help formulate strong disaster risk reduction strategies. According to TOI, the team from IIT Ropar presented their findings at the Indian Cryosphere Meet (ICM) which was held at IIT Bombay from Feb 14-15. As per the report, the event was attended by 80 glaciologists, researchers, and scientists from around the world.
According to the TOI, the study was conducted by MTech scholar Daishisha Iawphniaw under the guidance of Reet Kamal Tiwari, an associate professor at IIT Ropar. The team used geospatial data to evaluate the state’s vulnerability.
“The study found that areas with mean slopes between 5.9 degrees and 16.4 degrees and elevations up to 1,600 metres are particularly prone to both landslides and floods. Meanwhile, higher-altitude regions with slopes between 16.8 degrees and 41.5 degrees are more likely to experience both avalanches and landslides,” Tiwari told TOI.
He maintained that the steep mountain slopes and elevations above 3,000 metres are at the “highest risk”. The study stated that flood and landslide-prone zones are typically located in lower-elevation river valleys, while high-altitude mountains face a greater threat of avalanches.
The researchers also pointed out that one calamity could trigger another in the region due to shared underlying causes and stressed that having this knowledge is crucial for improving disaster planning and risk management. Tiwari told TOI that similar studies are being conducted in Uttarakhand, J&K, and northeast states. “For Uttarakhand, we are collaborating with IIT Roorkee to conduct the study,” he said.
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45% of Himachal Pradesh is vulnerable to landslides: IIT study
