Q7.“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.”Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation.

The Himalayas, as young, tectonically active fold mountains, exhibit fragile geology, steep slopes, and high seismicity, rendering them highly prone to landslides.

Natural Factors

• Heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) saturate slopes.
• River erosion, especially toe cutting, destabilizes mountain bases.

Anthropogenic Factors

• Unscientific road construction, tunneling, and quarrying disrupt slope stability.
• Deforestation, unplanned urbanization, and hydropower projects remove natural anchors and increase geological stress.

Structural/Engineering

• Constructing retaining walls, gabion walls, and wire mesh for slope stabilization.
• Implementing proper drainage systems and bio-engineering techniques.

Non-structural/Policy

• Developing early warning systems and strict land-use planning.
• Promoting afforestation, public awareness, and stringent building codes.

An integrated, multi-stakeholder approach, combining scientific research, policy implementation, and community participation, is crucial for sustainable development and effective landslide risk reduction in the Himalayas.