Increases in the number of construction projects in a sensitive region like the Himalayas would lead to accidents like landslides
Himachal Pradesh suffered a massive landslide August 11, 2021, which killed two persons while dozens were reported missing. The casualty figures could increase.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said rescue teams were at work at the landslide site in Kinnaur district’s Nigulsari, trying to pull out survivors from under debris.
निगुलसेरी, किन्नौर में भूस्खलन होने से मलबे में वाहनों के दबने का समाचार सुनकर बहुत दुखी हूं।
— Jairam Thakur (@jairamthakurbjp) August 11, 2021
हमने किन्नौर प्रशासन को राहत-बचाव कार्य के निर्देश दे दिए हैं।
मलबे में दबे लोगों को सुरक्षित निकालने के हरसंभव प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं।
प्रभावितों को हरसंभव सहायता प्रदान की जाएगी। pic.twitter.com/7PoK1zRf3A
A number of battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police were working frantically to locate survivors.
A landslide reported on Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway in #Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh today at around 12.45 Hrs. One truck, a HRTC Bus and few vehicles reported came under the rubble. Many people reported trapped. ITBP teams rushed for rescue. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/ThLYsL2cZK
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jairam Thakur and assured him of all the help from the Union government.
PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur. PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 11, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also promised all possible help to the Himachal authorities.
हिमाचल के किन्नौर में भूस्खलन से हुए हादसे के संबंध में मैंने मुख्यमंत्री @jairamthakurbjp जी व DG ITBP से बात की है।@ITBP_official की टीमें राहत व बचाव कार्य में पूरी तत्परता से लगी हैं। लोगों की जान बचाना व घायलों को शीघ्र उपचार देना ITBP व स्थानीय प्रशासन की प्राथमिकता है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 11, 2021
The Himalayan state has always been at risk of landslides like other areas along the new-fold, relatively unstable mountains. Repeated landslide warnings have been sounded for Indian states and Union territories like Ladakh (the Kargil area), Himachal, Uttarakhand and Sikkim as well as for Nepal.
Experts Down To Earth spoke to said the Himalayas were very fragile. The increase in construction projects in the range, including infrastructure such as four-laned roads could lead to disasters such as landslides, they said.
According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority:
The hills and mountains of Himachal Pradesh are liable to suffer landslides during monsoons and also in high intensity earthquakes. The vulnerability of the geologically young and not so stable steep slopes in various Himalayan ranges, has been increasing at a rapid rate in the recent decade due to inappropriate human activity like deforestation, road cutting, terracing and changes in agriculture crops requiring more intense watering etc.
The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council has classified the landslide proneness of the districts of Himachal Pradesh:
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
The site of the landslide in Kinnaur. Photo: @ITBP_official / Twitter.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.