The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), recently conducted a risk assessment on landslides recorded between 1988 and 2022 in 147 districts across 17 states and two union territories in India. The outcome of this assessment is the Landslide Atlas of India. This atlas has been prepared under the Disaster Management Support Programme of ISRO and provides a state-wise geospatial distribution of landslides using space data and geospatial models.
India: Third Most Landslide-Prone Country in the World
The key findings of the Landslide Atlas of India are alarming. India is the third most landslide-prone country in the world. Approximately 12.6% of India’s land area, excluding snow-covered areas, is prone to landslides. The northwest Himalayas contribute to 66.5% of landslides in India, followed by the northeast Himalayas (18.8%) and the Western Ghats (14.7%).
Top Five Districts Based on Exposure to Landslide
According to the Landslide Atlas of India, the top five districts based on their exposure to landslides are Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Thrissur (Kerala), Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir), and Palakkad (Kerala).
Causes and Impacts of Landslides
A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, earth, or debris down a slope. The causes of landslides include socio-economic parameters like total population, number of households, deforestation, heavy rainfall, and earthquakes.
The impacts of landslides are severe and far-reaching. They can cause loss of lives and infrastructure, increase the risk of floods, and create a financial burden for rebuilding infrastructure. The Landslide Atlas of India is a crucial step towards mitigating the damage caused by landslides in the country. By identifying the districts and regions most prone to landslides, disaster management authorities can take steps to reduce the risk of landslides and minimize their impacts.
Role of NRSC in Landslide Mitigation
The NRSC is responsible for managing data from aerial and satellite sources. The Landslide Atlas of India is an example of the valuable work that the NRSC is doing to support disaster management in India. By leveraging space data and geospatial models, the NRSC is enabling disaster management authorities to make more informed decisions and take proactive measures to mitigate the risks associated with landslides.
MCQs on The Role of NRSC in Landslide Mitigation
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What percentage of India’s land area is prone to landslides, as reported in the Landslide Atlas of India?
A. 10.2%
B. 12.6%
C. 15.1%
D. 18.9%
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What are the top five districts based on their exposure to landslides according to the Landslide Atlas of India?
A. Thrissur, Rajouri, and Palakkad
B. Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal
C. Northwest Himalayas and Northeast Himalayas
D. Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala
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What is the role of the NRSC in mitigating the impact of landslides in India?
A. Managing data from aerial and satellite sources
B. Developing the Landslide Atlas of India
C. Identifying the districts and regions most prone to landslides
D. Enabling disaster management authorities to make more informed decisions
