Landslides in India: Causes, Vulnerable Zones, Recent Disasters and Mitigation (UPSC Notes)

Causes

• Natural: steep slopes, weak or fractured rock, heavy and prolonged rain, cloudbursts, earthquakes, river undercutting.
• Human: slope cutting for roads and hydro projects, tunnelling, blasting, deforestation, unscientific construction, blocked drainage, monoculture plantations replacing forests.

Where India is vulnerable

About 12.6% of India’s land (excluding snow-covered areas) is landslide-prone, says the Geological Survey of India. The Landslide Atlas of India (ISRO NRSC, 2023) ranked Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) as the most exposed districts; Kerala’s districts rank high in the Western Ghats. Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal suffer frequent slides on the soft rocks of the North-East.

Recent disasters

• Kedarnath (2013): cloudburst and glacial lake burst, thousands dead.
• Malin, Maharashtra (2014): a village buried overnight.
• Joshimath (2023): land subsidence cracked hundreds of houses; experts pointed to loose moraine base, poor drainage and construction.
• Wayanad (2024): extreme rain triggered debris flows that wiped out Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

Mitigation

• Hazard zonation maps and building codes; NDMA landslide guidelines (2009) and the national landslide risk management strategy (2019).
• Early warning: GSI’s regional forecasting system piloted in Darjeeling and the Nilgiris; rain gauges and slope sensors.
• Engineering: retaining walls, rock bolting, drainage; bio-engineering with grasses like vetiver.
• Land-use control: carrying capacity studies for hill towns, limits on construction on steep slopes, as the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports urged for the Western Ghats.

Landslides: UPSC angle

Landslides UPSC PYQs (Prelims)

Questions UPSC has actually asked, from the official papers. Pick an option to check yourself.

No Prelims question in the Battle IAS bank is directly on this topic yet.

Mains PYQs on this topic

Questions from the official UPSC Mains papers (2023-2026 in the Battle IAS Mains bank), newest first. Each links to a model answer.

1. UPSC Mains 2023 · GS Paper IV · Q8 · 20 marks

   A landslide occurred in the middle of the night on 20th July, 2023 in a remote mountain hamlet, approximately 60 kilometres from Uttarkashi. The landslide was caused by torrential rains and has resulted in large-scale destruction of property and life. You, as District Magistrate of that area, have rushed to the spot with a team of doctors, NGOs, media and police along with numerous support staff to oversee the rescue operations.
   A man came running to you with a request for urgent medical help for his pregnant wife who is in labour and is losing blood. You directed your medical team to examine his wife. They return and convey to you that this woman needs blood transfusion immediately. Upon enquiry, you come to know that a few blood collection bags and blood group test kits are available in the ambulance accompanying your team. Few people of your team have already volunteered to donate blood.
   Being a physician who has graduated from AIIMS, you know that blood for transfusion needs to be procured only through a recognized blood bank. Your team members are divided on this issue; some favour transfusion, while some others oppose it. The doctors in the team are ready to facilitate the delivery provided they are not penalized for transfusion. Now you are in a dilemma. Your professional training emphasizes on prioritising service to humanity and saving lives of individuals.
   (a) What are the ethical issues involved in this case ?
   (b) Evaluate the options available to you, being District Magistrate of the area.

   Model answer and approach

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