CHAPTER – 15 LANDSLIDES

No loss of life and property on account of landslides and snow avalanches (Vision of
Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches)

Landslides form a significant component of the natural disasters that affect most of the hilly
regions round the globe.

Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches Report 2009 defines landslides as “a process
involving the downward and outward movement of a part of the slope forming material due to
the action of gravity, other forms of mass movements like falls, flows, topples and creeps are
generally included in the term landslides”.

Disaster Management in India 2011 Landslides mainly affect the Himalayan region and the
western ghats of India. Landslides are also common in the Nilgiri range. It is estimated that 30
percent of the world’s landslides occur in the Himalayas. The Himalayan mountains, which
constitute the youngest and most dominating mountain system in the world, are not a single long
landmass but comprises a series of seven curvilinear parallel folds running along a grand arc for
a total of 3400 kilometers. Due to its unique nature, the Himalayas have a history of landslides
that has no comparison with any other mountain range in the world. Landslides are also common
in western ghat. In the Nilgiris, in 1978 alone, unprecedented rains in the region triggered about
one hundred landslides which caused severe damage to communication lines, tea gardens and
other cultivated crops. A valley in Nilgiris is called “Avalanches Valley”. Scientific observation
in north Sikkim and Garhwal regions in the Himalayas clearly reveal that there is an average of
two landslides per sq. km. The mean rate of land loss is to the tune of 120 meter per km per year
and annual soil loss is about 2500 tones per sq km. Fig 10.1 shows the landslide hazard zones in
India
 Figure 15.1: Map of Landslides Zones in India

Source: www.researchgate.net

15.1 Landslide Vulnerability and Risk in India

Landslide vulnerability means threat to housing, infrastructure, farms and fields, hydeo-electric
and water supply installations, open cast mines, tunnels heritage buildings, pilgrim routes and
tourist spots. Knowing the level of vulnerability, it requires the scientific approach to deal with
the detected threat to landslide hazard.

Vulnerability shall be maximum in case of unpreparedness and populations living on the slopes
with an established landslide prone areas. This vulnerability to landslides can be reduced by
creating a culture of safety through proper land use planning, appropriate engineering
interventions and public awareness. For that, we need to evolve a culture of quick response to
manage disasters to reduce the impact of landslide disasters.

After completely detecting the vulnerability profile of landslide hazard, level of risk can be
determined. So the total risk of landslide hazard surrounds on population size, infrastructure and
property exposed.

In India, 15 per cent of the land area comes under landslide hazard which covers an area of more
than 0.49 million sq. km. The country has been affected by different types of landslides in
various levels of frequency based on geo-dynamic activities such as slope instability, rugged
topography and high rainfall in the Himalayas and North-Eastern part of the country as well as
Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills in the Southern Part. Beside these frequent landslide hazard
areas, it has also been recorded in the Eastern Ghats, Ranchi Plateau and Vindhyan plateau. Out
of total geographical area, 22 states and parts of Pudducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
also affected by landslide hazard largely during monsoon period.

Growing population pressure and human settlement, roads, dams, tunnels and water reservoirs
are raising the vulnerability of landslide hazard. According to Management of Landslides and
Snow Avalanches Report 2009, the road network in Himalayan region is more than 50,000 km in
the length and several large and there are more than 25 river dam multi-purpose dams on the
river Ganga and its tributaries in Himalayan region.

Quarrying and mining have been damaging the slope and environment in the Doon valley, Jhiroli
(Almora) and Chandhak (Pithoragarh).The National Highway 1A and 1B in Jammu and Kashmir
is highly vulnerable for landslide.

In the Western Ghats, over 500 lives were lost due to landslides in the Konkan area in
Maharashtra during incessant rain in 2005, which accounted for 100 lives in the Mumbai
Metropolitan Area alone. Some examples of devastating landslides in the Nilgiris include the
Amboori landslide in Thiruvanantapuram district, Kerala; and the Runnymede, Hospital,
Glenmore, Coonoor, and Karadipallam landslides in Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu.

Landslides may also results in blocking river courses and form dams known as landslide dams.
Such landslide dams are the Gohana Gad landslide dam that blocked the river Burehi Ganga in
1893, Patalganga river in 1970 which led to Alakananda tragedy, the Napth-Jhakhri landslide on
the Sutlej river that caused huge loss of water Naptha-Jhakhri hydroelectric project.

15.1.1 Impacts of Landslide Hazard

  The impact of Landslide disasters can be observed in long-term and short-term
perspective over society and environment both. The short term impacts are counted in
terms of loss of life and property at the disaster site and long-term impacts bring
permanent changes in the landscapes in the forms of loss of cultivable land and soil
erosion and soil loss as environmental loss, population migration or forced displacement
on the demographic ground.
 Most affected people by the disaster are socio-economically weaker who live in
vulnerable areas. Such people even lose their source of livelihood and home due to
disaster effects.
 The multi folded loss has been observed in the form of damages of private and
government properties such as destruction of infrastructure and heritage buildings.
 Landslides during rainy season bring long halt in the traffic flow. It has been particularly
observed in Himalayas and North-Eastern regions of the country.
 The injuries and casualities suffered add to the woes of the affected families. The
psychological damage of families remains non-replaceable and un-recoverable for the
lifetime.
 Landslides also reduce the effective life of, and returns from hydroelectric and
multipurpose projects by adding an enormous amount of silt load to the reservoirs.
 Landslides obstruct river flow and form landslide dams. In later period, due to water
force it fails or burst that causes flooding and large scale devastation in downstream
areas. India has already experience such devastating disaster when it took place during
monsoon period in the year of 2013 in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand.
 Landslides can also cause overtopping of dams resulting in flash floods and/or reduced
capacity of reservoirs to store water.

According to Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches Report – 2009, NDMA initiated
the development of guidelines for systematic management of landslides hazard with the objective
to generate awareness and to suggest action to reduce risk and cost of hazard. Beside this,
administrative response and integrated scientific, engineering, construction and planning
approach adopted in the management of landslide hazards.

For fail-safe and long-term achievements for management of Landslide hazard, we have adopted
following systematic approaches:

 Hazard Zonation Mapping.

 Geological and Geotechnical Investigation.
 Monitoring and Forecasting of Landslides.
 Regulation and Enforcement.
 Awareness and Preparedness.
 Capacity Development.
 Response.
15.2 Hazard Zonation Mapping

Disaster mitigation efforts aim to assess the status of the hazard and identify the scientific
and technological tools that can help in minimising vulnerability and risk. It includes
identification of sites vulnerable to hazards and carrying out hazard zonation mapping at
different scales (fig. 1). These objectives can be met taking up following methodologies:

a) Landslide Inventory
 The main purpose behind the preparation of a landslide inventory map and
database is the documentation of all the known landslide incidences, including
stabilised, dormant, reactivated, and the most recent slides.
 It is not possible to prepare a complete landslide inventory map and database,
since that would involve the field mapping of each and every landslide
incidence, which is practically impossible.
 Very high resolution imagery (QuickBird, IKONOS, CARTOSAT-1 and 2)
has become the best option now for landslide mapping from satellite images,
and the number of operational sensors with such characteristics is growing
every year. Other remote sensing approaches of landslide inventory mapping
include shaded relief images produced by Light Detection and Ranging
(LiDAR), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR) interferometry.

b) Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping (LHZM)

 The aim of LHZ mapping is to determine the spatial and temporal extent of a
landslide hazard.
 A landslide risk zonation map integrates the landslide hazard, vulnerability,
and a quantification of the elements at risk.
 Landslide hazard maps are also essential for detecting the damage potential
and quantifying risks.
 Landslide hazard mapping developed relating nature of slope, land use and
land cover, climate and hydrology.

The preparation of maps showing landslide hazards includes:

i) The generation of thematic maps by compiling and collating the observations on geology,
geomorphology, land use, land cover, and the distribution of landslide processes,
including the use of local records, interpretation of aerial photographs, and high-
resolution imagery.
ii) The identification of areas that could be affected by landslide hazards in future.
iii) The transformation of process maps into hazard maps identifying the potential for spatial
impact and the probability of occurrence of hazards.

Figure 15.2 Taxonomy of Landslide Hazard Zonation

Source: Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches, 2009

c) Seismic Landslide Hazard Zonation (SLHZ)

 Landslides triggered or induced by earthquakes are known as co-seismic landslides.
 The most abundant types of earthquake induced landslides are rock falls and slides of
slope forming material resting on steep slopes.
 Landslide can occur due to an earthquake, landslides resulting from liquefaction are
caused by seismic events only.

Other types of mass movements generally related to seismic activity are:

i) Rock avalanches that originate on over steepened slopes with weak rocks.
ii) Mud flows and rapidly moving wet earth flows that can be initiated by earthquake
tremors.
15.3 Geological and Geotechnical Investigation

For understanding landslides, we need to know the plausible slide boundaries, mode of
failure, shear strength variation along slide boundaries and spatial variation of pore water
suction or pore water pressure, possible causes of slope instability, and the factors
responsible for triggering the movement.

15.3.1 Geological Investigations

Landslide investigation and mitigation requires mapping of landslide hazards and

creation of a knowledge database with the fullest appreciation of the scale and degree of
reliability of information gathered. The prediction of landslide is possible if have
knowledge of when and where it will occur, and how far and how fast it will move.
The geological investigation of landslides can be divided into different stages and these
investigations proceed sequentially from one stage to the other with some overlap. The
different stages of investigation are: i) Preliminary geological investigation. ii) Detailed
geological investigation. iii) Geotechnical investigation.

i) Preliminary Stage Geological Investigation

 This stage involves collection of available and visible information, desk study as
well as initial reconnoitering traverses in the field to collect regional as well as
local information and data.
 Extensive use of remote sensing products including high resolution CARTOSAT-
1 and 2 should be made to demarcate the area likely to be affected by further
landsliding, understand the dynamic behaviour of the landslide, delineate the
modified slope conditions by preparing Digital Elevation Model (DEM), etc.
 Field Surveys and Investigations: Preliminary field surveys in the landslide area
should be carried out with a view to assess:
i) The orientation, spacing and openings of all the cracks.
ii) Disposition of accumulation zones, depletion and scarp faces, and
distribution pattern of different size fractions in debris.
iii) The locations of seepage, springs, natural drainage courses, and slushy
ground.
iv) The location of human habitation, communication corridors and other civil
engineering structures.
v) The weathering profile, nature of the slope forming material, study of
overburden and rock contact, nature of drainage, springs, scarps, etc.
vi) The demarcation of the buffer zone based on the trajectory of the falling
rock blocks between the toe of the hill and the human settlements or other
structures to avoid any risk factor during landslide treatment.
 ii) Detailed Geological Investigations

 It includes the area to be covered by geological mapping and sub-surface

geological investigations are to be guided by the geological complexity of the site.
 After the completion of surface geological mapping, the behaviour of surface
material and other in-depth features need to be explored.
 The sub-surface explorations aim to establish:
i) The depth to bedrock or thickness of the overburden, and weathering limit.
The lithological characters of various rock units and their significance.
The limits of slump joints and glide cracks, if any.
ii) The nature, spacing, and continuity of prominent joints, slip surface, minor
and major shear zones, etc.
iii) The depth of the groundwater table.
iv) The permeability of strata.
v) If possible, the depth and disposition of the plane along which the failure
has taken place.
The above parameters can be determined by employing non-destructive geophysical
techniques that are easily available. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can initially be
used in surveys for assessing the depth and nature of bedrock and condition of ground
water.
iii) Geotechnical Investigations
A Geotechnical Slope Investigation always begin with a careful study of the field
evidence by a trained landslide investigator. For instance, the study of the landslide
boundaries, exposed lithologies, discontinuities, shear zones, water springs, aquifers,
slope subsidence, heave, cracks, behaviour of buildings, etc., can provide a sense of
direction to the nature and quantum of the ensuing detailed sub-slope geotechnical
investigation.

15.4 Monitoring and Forecasting of Landslides

Monitoring includes the measurement and analysis of landslide dynamics and changing
factors responsible for landslides. It also includes post-stabilisation monitoring of
landslide to evaluate the remedial measures implemented. It also includes continuous (or
at relatively close intervals) measurement of the temporal and spatial variability of mass
movements at and beneath the surface, micro-topography, soil moisture, ground water
levels, and precipitation.
Landslide monitoring is generally not practiced in our country. Considering the incidence
of a huge number of landslides in the Himalayas, NER, Western Ghats and Nilgiri hills in
South India, it is not possible to undertake monitoring of each individual landslide.
Therefore, a few landslides will be identified for monitoring and early warning.
15.4.1 Monitoring of Landslides

The monitoring of landslide movements consists of: i) Selecting a specific location

depending upon the type of movement, location, hazard, and risk value of slope failure.
ii) Selection of monitoring methods and frequency of data collection iii) Data processing
and methods of result presentation.
Methods generally used for monitoring landslides can be divided into surface and
subsurface measurements of the landslide activity, and total regime measurements.

15.4.2 Real-Time Monitoring of Landslides

Real-time landslide monitoring can pick up even minor changes, enabling the
transmission of warning signals within short movement landslide.
With the rapid advances made in electronics and communications technology, the data
loggers installed in the vicinity of sites are connected to data processing stations through
telemetry systems that can transmit data to processing stations on a real-time basis. These
data has been processed automatically and immediately by computers with the necessary
software installed.
In recent, remote sensing application tools, including High Resolution Satellite Imagery,
LiDAR, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Persistent Scatterer (PS), and differential
interferometery techniques for the correlation between landslide morphology, motion and
topographic analysis are used in some countries for landslide monitoring. Real-time
monitoring of landslides has generally not been practised in India till recently.
The use of Remote Sensing (RS), Digital Image Processing (DMP), Global Positioning
System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) facilitated predictive
modelling and risk analysis of landslides and it have revolutionized the study of
landslides and improving the ability of scientific monitoring and managing landslide-
prone areas.

15.4.3 Early Warning Systems for Landslides

The term early warning includes actions and operations right from planning and
instrumentation of problematic slopes and landslides to monitor, analysis, fixing of early
warning alert, decision making and broadcasting of warning. Early warning process
involves:
a) Scientific and Technical Communities
b) Government Authorities and Civil Agencies
c) Local Communities
 a) Scientific and Technical Communities: They are responsible for studying and
monitoring natural events to provide models which can be used to forecast intensity,
time, and geographical span landslide hazard.
b) Government Authorities and Civil Agencies: They are responsible for establishing
operations, and the framework related to preparedness and response in case of events.
c) Local Communities: The local communities understand the nature, intensity and
range of hazards. Accordingly they react to existing guidelines provided by
authorities.

A complete and effective early warning system comprises four inter-related elements:
i) Risk knowledge: Prior knowledge of the risks faced by communities.
ii) Monitoring and warning services: Technical and warning services for these risks.
iii) Dissemination and communication: Dissemination of easy to understand warnings
to those at risk.
iv) Response capability: Knowledge, awareness and preparedness to act.

The weakness or failure of any one of them could result in the failure of the entire
system.

15.5 Regulation and Enforcement

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) of landslide affected areas with the
NDMA implement a necessary techno-legal and techno-financial mechanisms to
overcome the problem of landslide hazards in the respective states.
It ensures that all stakeholders like builders, architects, engineers, and government
departments adopt landslide safe land use practices and provide safety norms as far as
slope stability is concerned particular and hilly areas.

15.5.1 Model Town Planning and Land Use Bye-Laws

The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a national level expert group to identify
and recommend the modification in the existing regulations to ascertain fail-safe
structure.

The group of expert advocated modification in the town and country planning acts, land
use and zoning regulations, Development Control Regulations (DCRs) and developed a
set of model bye-laws which are technically rigorous and implemented globally.

The need of codes/ guidelines in the landslides risk evaluation and the detailed geological
investigation of landslides has also been felt.
 In case of hydropower projects in hilly terrain, all the agencies like private or public
sector are asked to follow the guidelines in preparation of landslide susceptibility, hazard
and risk analysis maps and to take clearance from the concerned authorities before
starting the projects.

15.6 Awareness and Preparedness

Local communities who are better aware about the disastrous effects of landslide hazard
are in better state in terms of physical and psychological order to face impacts. Since
landslides are frequent and sudden, the level of awareness has been quite low compared
to other disasters like earthquakes, floods, and cyclones. Thus, an immediate need has
been felt to educate people about landslides to reduce the risk and losses.

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) of landslide affected areas with the nodal
agency and other key stakeholders, will make special efforts to mobilise communities to
carry out landslide mitigation efforts.

Electronic and print media will also contribute in the endeavour to create greater public
awareness about landslide hazard and importance of land use zoning practices.
Organisations and institutions like the Geological Survey of India (GSI), National
Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and some
NGOs will be associated with the responsibility of preparing material for awareness
generation campaigns pertaining to the landslide prone areas in the country.

15.6.1 Awareness Drives for Specific Target Groups

Public awareness campaigns will be conducted at the national, state, and district centres and in
high risk areas for disseminating information on landslide risk management among all
stakeholders.

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and professional bodies will organise knowledge
and experience sharing workshops for general awareness. They will also support private agencies
to develop their capacities to assess, predict, and monitor landslides.

The NDRF will continue with its familiarisation and community awareness programme on
response and relief in the landslide affected regions.

15.6.2 Community Preparedness

Local authorities like gram panchayats, with the help of NGOs and volunteer groups will prepare
and implement community based DM plans. A database of such groups will be created and
maintained at the district and state levels.
In the comprehensive exercise programme, five main types of activities, viz., orientation
seminar, drill, tabletop exercises, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises have been
included for preparedness. It shall be executed in the following ways:

 Exercise programmes for each disaster prone district will be developed and made an
essential part of the preparedness programme.
 The entire cycle of an exercise programme from orientation seminar to full scale exercise
takes about 18 to 24 months.
 Complete exercises in disaster prone districts will be conducted at least once in four
years.
 As per the specific situation, these exercises will be conducted to assess preparedness for
all the hazards present in the district rather than for individual hazards.

Communities need to be alerted and made aware of:

i) The major disaster threat perceptions in the localities and immediate concern to them.
ii) The possible landslide hazard distribution scenarios and major known landslide spots
and identified elements at risk in the area.
iii) The lessons to be learned from past landslide disasters in the area and from their
(mis)management.
iv) The precursors and early indicators that can avert a landslide disaster.
v) The elements like roads, housing, schools etc., exposed to landslide risk.
vi) The role and responsibility of the government and local bodies before, during and
after a disaster.
vii) The expected roles and responsibilities of communities and people at large—before,
during and after a disaster.
viii) The roles of the public sector, corporate sector, NGOs and other voluntary
organizations.

15.6.3 Medical Preparedness

 The principal aim of the medical management plan will be to improve emergency
medical preparedness and response.
 Medical First Responders (MFRs) for administering first aid and resuscitation measures
at the incident site and during the transportation of casualties, will be identified and
trained.
 All members of the medical and paramedical teams will conduct regular exercises based
on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) laid down by the respective Disaster
Management Authority (DMAs) as part of their DM plans.
  All public health facilities will develop their own DM plans, with arrangements for
enhancing their surge capacity in the event of disaster.
 Training exercises and mock drills will be carried out regularly by doctors and
paramedical staff.
 The medical preparedness plans will also include the identification of trained trauma and
psycho-social care teams, with nursing and paramedical staff.

15.7 Capacity Development

Capacity developments are efforts essential for the strategy to fight landslide disaster.
Technicians, administrators, and rescue workers who have been well trained and oriented
to act during emergency situations contribute significantly in reducing the impact of
disasters.

Capacity development aims at preparing all psychologically, socially, and technically to

participate in the management of landslide disasters.
It can be successful only when all participate actively in this reducing risk exercise. The
capacity development includes capacity upgradation, landslide education, training, and
documentation.

15.7.1 Landslide Education

The landslide incidence has been increasing alarmingly due to extensive anthropogenic
interference with the developmental activities in the stable hilly regions. It is a need of
time to educate professionals involved in landslide management that should be made
aware to architects, planners, engineers, and builders, especially in landslide prone areas.
On the other hand, educating decision makers, local authorities, NGOs, communities, the
media, and other stakeholders is also important.

Disaster related curricula have already been introduced at the inter-mediate levels in
schools. Education and training programmes will be designed with greater focus on the
development of the capacity and skills of trainers and teachers.

Science and technology courses designed by experts and designated institutions will be
introduced to orient all target groups, including school teachers, NGOs, private
volunteers, and other professionals to engage them in landslide mitigation process.

15.7.2 Education of Professionals

 It is time for knowledge groups, institutions and universities to give focused attention to
landslide education through the revision of syllabi, enlarging the scope of teaching earth
sciences and allied disciplines and crafting of new educational programmes.

The department of earth sciences, engineering geology, seismology, geotechnical

engineering, structural engineering, and architectural need to frame new syllabi
integrating landslide management. For this purpose they can take help from National
Programme in Earthquake Engineering Education (NPEEE) of Ministry of Human
Resource Development (MHRD).

A large number of professionals require training and retraining because it is need of time
to create a team of professionals who will appreciate the importance of correct diagnosis
before slope treatment. Engineering geologists will have to discuss the microgeological
details controlling a landslide, and not just stop at a broad description of the lithology. A
geotechnical engineer needs education to realise that orthodox soil mechanics has long
been replaced by modern soil mechanics, with concepts, tools and techniques that can
help characterise and analyse a landslide more reliably.

Landslide managers need the education that will make them insist on a scientific,
systematic slope investigation, realising that ad hoc measures without sound investigation
may prove to be a costly waste.

Disaster Management related medical education is required to cover trauma care,

epidemic control, emergency medical care.

15.7.3 Community Education

The need of community education about disaster management and response cannot be
overlooked because community is only the first responder to a disaster and its role in
rescue and response has great significance. For active and fruitful participation of
community, government should evolve a joint action plan aiming at disseminating
community awareness and developing community leadership. Such awareness will result
into making communities to ensure safer constructions.

15.7.4 Training

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Institute of Disaster Management
(NIDM) with the help of other knowledge based national institutions and the states’
 Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) have been identified and entrusted with the
responsibility of training administrative personnel from all central ministries and
departments and state governments on the different aspects of landslides.

Areas where Training is Required

i) Geomorphological, geotechnical, hydro-geological and GIS based LHM with
perception of mapping scales.
ii) Geotechnical investigation of landslides with particular reference to the
characterisation of slopes, elucidation of landslide boundaries, representative
undisturbed sampling from shear zones, handling of samples, simulated stress-
path testing and stability analysis in terms of total and effective stresses.
iii) Techniques for monitoring slope surface and sub-slope movements, movement
rates, and cross-linkage with rainfall records, piezometric profiles, and
behaviour of buildings and structures on the slope.
iv) Slope modelling.
v) GIS based landslide hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessments.
vi) Slope kinetics, site effects, and earthquake induced landslides in seismic micro-
zonation and risk assessment.
vii) Instrumentation of slopes, landslides, and avalanches, and early warning.
viii) Design of landslides and avalanche control measures with particular reference to
the choice of technologies.
ix) Training of first responders in search, rescue and medical care. x) Training of
communities and local bodies.
x) Training of visual, print and electronic media in the science of disaster
management for improved and more objective reporting.

15.7.5 Capacity Upgradation

Capacity upgradation will be processed by identifying institutions active in the field of

landslides and their strength will be enhanced in terms of expertise, and resource for
effective landslide hazard management.
The main areas requiring capacity development in the context of landslide disaster
management are as follows:
i) The set up of national level organized systematic and scientific mechanism
for integrated management which may replace temporary, least effective
previous approaches.
 ii) The enhancement of expertise and capacities of knowledge centres in
different parts of the country for dependable and timely geomorphological,
geotechnical, and hydro-geological investigations; and for scientific
design, and speedy and effective implementation of control measures.
iii) Identification of institutions supporting and providing assistance for pre
and post landslide function in that disaster affected areas.

15.7.6 Documentation

All dimensional efforts will be made to collect minor information for landslide risk and
vulnerability from affected areas. For this purpose national and regional libraries and
information sources (books, reports, journals, electronic documents, etc.) will be
consulted. With the help of different software, Geological Survey of India (GSI) will
launch a special drive to digitise all past documents from various sources and archive
them into electronic format.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Geological Survey of India
(GSI) will prepare documentaries, information bulletin and other material for landslide
safety following land zoning regulations. State government will provide all safety
guidelines in local languages, so that safety information could reach to all sections.
Beside these, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Geological Survey of
India (GSI), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and State Disaster
Management Authority (SDMA) will provide/upload all safety related information on
their respective and common websites and portals.

15.8 Response
Depending on the magnitude and scale of the landslide it requires reponses.
The response component of the Disaster Management plans includes the rapid deployment
of the designated people, supplies, and logistics to the disaster site within a shortest duration.
These plans can be executed only through a coordinated mechanism among the agencies.

15.8.1 Emergency Search and Rescue

 The community in the affected neighbourhood is always the first responder after any
disaster. On the basis of previous experiences initially over 80 per cent of search and rescue
operations are carried out by local communities before the state machinery and specialised
search and rescue teams arrive.
 The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalions assists the state
government/district authorities in training communities.
 They will be further assisted by the civil defence, home guards, fire services, and NGOs.
15.8.2 Role of Private and Corporate Sectors

The state governments will search the options of involvement of private and corporate
sectors during the immediate post disaster needs. Under the Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR), private sectors can contribute in hospital services, power and telecommunication,
relief supplies, search and rescue equipments, transport and logistics.

15.8.3 Specialised Teams for Response

a) National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

 The Central Government has set up eight NDRF battalions for providing rapid
response to disasters.
 All 144 teams of the NDRF will be specially equipped and trained in landslide,
avalanche and collapsed structure search and rescue operations.
 The NDRF battalions will also be provided with communication equipment like
satellite phones for establishing continuous connectivity in every part of the country
where landslides or other disasters can occur.

b) Fire Services

 The fire services in the ULBs of various states are being used as an emergency-cum-fire
services force.
 The fire services will be trained adequately so that they can respond to different disasters
promptly, in addition to managing fires.

Police

 The police play a very important role after a disaster by maintaining law and order,
assisting in search and rescue operations and in the transportation and certification of
casualties.
 In case the landslide causes traffic disruptions for a long duration, the traffic police will
play an important role by regulating and controlling the flow of traffic movement.
 The home guards serve as secondary arm of the police force and support the district
administration in various tasks.
d) Civil Defence
 Civil defence was set up in the context of war to cover only important towns (225 in
number) but now be utilised for disaster response and management as well.
 There are about 18 persons employed on a full-time basis in each district, out of which eight
are trainers entrusted with the duty of training volunteers and wardens for response in DM.
 In the first phase (year 2008-09) 40 major civil defence towns have been identified which
will now cover entire districts concerned.
 The state governments/SDMAs and DDMAs coordinate the human resources of the civil
defence set-up as well as those of other agencies for performing/responding to various
disaster related activities.

15.8.4 Emergency Medical Response

 When landslide hits, a prompt and efficient emergency medical response will be provided by
Quick Response Medical Team (QRMT), mobile hospitals, Accident Relief Medical Vans
(ARMVs) and heli-ambulances that are in place for other disasters like earthquakes.
 They will be immediately directed to reach the landslide affected locations, along with
dressing material, splints, portable X-ray machines, mobile operation theatres, resuscitation
equipment and lifesaving drugs, etc.
 After the occurrence of a disastrous landslide, an information centre will be set up for
disseminating accurate information to public, relatives of victims, and the media at the
district level in case the number of casualties is high.

15.9 National Disaster Management Plan 2016

The Disaster Management planning, preparedness and capacity building will be in the core
objective of upgradation of Indian Disaster Management systems incorporating global practices.

For each hazard, the approach used in this national plan incorporates the four priorities
enunciated in the Sendai Framework into the planning framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
under the five thematic areas for action:

1. Understanding Risk
2. Inter-Agency Coordination
3. Investing in DRR – Structural Measures
4. Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures
5. Capacity Development

15.8.1 Understanding Risk

Centre’s Reponsibilities:
a) Hazard Zoning, mapping, geological, and geotechnical Investigations in regions
prone to landslides and snow avalanches will be made by Geological Survey of
India, Wadia Inst. of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Border Road
Organization (BRO) and Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and
these institutions will take responsibilities of:
  Preparation of comprehensive and user-friendly inventory of landslides
and avalanche prone areas and its updation as per widely accepted
standards
 Studies and monitoring of risk prone areas on site and using satellites
 Studies to classify vulnerable areas as per likelihood of hazard
b) As the part of Research and Development, National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM), Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE),
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Indian Meteorological
Department (IMD), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Department of
Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) all together will take collective/collaborative responsibilities of:
 Scientific assessment for predicting likelihood of landslides, and better
understanding of driving forces
 Impacts of climate change on landslides and snow avalanches risks
 R&D for methods to reduce factors driving landslide
c) Under the Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment Geological Survey of India
(GSI), Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management
(NIDM), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Department of Science
and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
have been assigned responsibilities of:
 Promote studies, provide guidelines
 Studies on vulnerability covering social, economic, ecological, gender,
and equity aspects
 Change in vulnerability and risk due under climate change scenarios

State’s Responsibilities
a) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), District Disaster
Management Authority (DDMA), Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs):-
 Undertake Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) as part of
preparing and periodic revision of DM plans
 Ensure facilities and infrastructure for the implementation of adequate access
to communities at risk
 Dissemination of warnings to all, down to the last mile – remote, rural or
urban; Regular updates to people in areas at risk

15.8.2 Inter-Agency Coordination

Centre’s Responsibilities
 a) In Overall disaster governance Ministry of Mines (MoM), Ministry of Defence
(MoD) act as a Nodal ministry –providing coordination, technical inputs, and
support
b) Quick, clear, effective dissemination among central and state agencies will be
circulated by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Border Road
Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
c) Non-structural measures Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Bureau of Indian
Standard (BIS), Border Road Organisation (BRO) and National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) will be responsible for
 Revising/Updating rules, norms, and codes
 New/Updated standards
 Review and improve laws, regulations and policies

State’s Responsibilities

a) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), District Disaster Management

Authority (DDMA), Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will take
responsibilities:
 Preparation and implementation of DM plans and ensure the functioning of
agencies with DM tasks.
 Organising the immediate response and seeking assistance of central agencies
 Dissemination of warnings to all, down to the last mile – remote, rural or urban;
Regular updates to people in areas at risk
 Adapting the norms/ codes as per State’s requirement, enforcement, monitoring

15.8.3 Investing in DRR – Structural Measures

Centre’s Responsibilities:
a) Protection of Human Settlements will be the responsibility of Border Road
Organisation (BRO) and Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) by
Technical inputs and guidance.
b) Protection of Heritage Structures will be prime responsibility of Archeological
Survey of India (ASI) as it prepare lists of structures/sites at risk due to
landslides/slope stability problems and prioritise them for hazard mitigation

State’s Responsibilities

a) State Directorates of Geology and Mining (DGM) and Public Works Department (PWD)
are responsible for Improving infrastructure, roads, and land stabilization work
b) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), District Disaster Management Authority
(DDMA), Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) take responsibilities of:
  Identification of safe buildings and sites to serve as temporary shelters for people
and livestock evacuated from localities at risk
 Construction of multi-purpose shelters in high risk areas at safe sites away from
hazard-prone locations
 Proper maintenance of roads in risk-prone areas

15.8.4 Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures

Centre’s Responsibilities:
a) Geological Survey of India (GSI) will take responsibility of proper site selection
for Human Settlements, amenities and other infrastructure in Landslide and Snow
Avalanche Prone Areas
b) Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) and National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM) take responsibilities of Regulations and building codes
and guidelines related to landslides published by BIS to be critically examined
and reviewed by peers. BIS will revise/revalidate every five years or earlier, if
necessary

State’s Responsibilities:

a) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), State Directorates of Geology and

Mining (DGM), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Local Authorities:-
 Adopt suitable byelaws for rural and urban areas
 Enforce model codes into practice
 Ensure proper compliance
 Ensure implementation and adherence to codes and guidelines
 Implement licensing of engineers through appropriate legal framework and
institutional mechanism
 Promote private participation in disaster management facilities

15.8.5 Capacity Development

Centre’s Responsibilities:
a) The objectives of Training by National Institute of Disaster Management
(NIDM) and Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management (CDMM) are:
 Train professionals on how to handle slope failures and their remediation
 Landslide emergencies by promoting observational method of design and
construction with training on the development of contingency plans
b) In order to generate Awareness National Institute of Disaster Management
(NIDM), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster
 Response Force (NDRF) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB)
will act as:
 Carry out mass media campaigns
 Promote culture of disaster risk prevention, mitigation, and better risk
management
 Promote attitude and behaviour change in the awareness campaigns/ IEC
 Promote use of insurance/ risk transfer
 Promote Community Radio
c) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF), Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be
working for promoting the planning and execution of emergency drills by all
ministries and in all States/UTs
d) Ministry of Mines (MoM) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) in collaboration
with the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Central Building
Research Institute, Roorkee (CBRI), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI),
Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Universities will be
Documenting the history of landslide studies and other related activities in India

State’s Responsibilities

a) State Directorates of Geology and Mining (DGM), State Remote Sensing Centers
(SRSC), Administrative Training Institute (ATIs), State Institute of Disaster Management
(SIDM) take responsibilities of
 Support and collaboration to national agencies
 Training and skill upgrades for search and rescue
 Conduct regular training programmes for professionals including those for care and
protection of disaster affected animals.
b) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF),
Fire and Emergency Services, Information Dept., District Disaster Management
Authority (DDMA), Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Civil Defence, Police:
 Carry out mass media campaigns
 Promote culture of disaster risk prevention, mitigation, and better risk
management
 Promote attitude and behaviour change in the awareness campaigns/ IEC
 Promote use of insurance/ risk transfer
 Promote Community Radio
 Inform people about care and protection of disaster-affected animals
 Joint planning and execution of emergency drills
 Constitute multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary teams for carrying out post
landslide field investigations, document the lessons learnt and disseminate
  Incorporating gender sensitive and equitable approaches in capacity development
covering all aspects of disaster management at the state, district, and local levels
c) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), District Disaster Management Authority
(DDMA), Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):
 Strengthen ability of communities to manage and cope with disasters based on a
multi-hazard approach
 Training for panchayat, Self Help Group (SHG), National Cadet Corps (NCC),
National Service Scheme (NSS), Youth, local community organizations

Conclusion

Landslide disaster risk can be reduced if human reduces pressure over the local environment
because fatal landslides occur due to human intrusion into the sphere of natural environment by
construction activities, mining, and forest cutting.