A landslide in Manipur late-last month has so far claimed 47 lives, while in another instance in Karnataka three people died. Experts believe most landslips occur during the monsoon because of geologically weak soil, deforestation and careless infrastructure projects
At least 47 people have died in a landslide in Manipur. AP
As heavy rains battered the coastal state of Karnataka, at least three people died in instances of landslides. In a similar instance of landslide, one of the worst-ever in the country, at least 47 people have been confirmed dead in Manipur, while 14 more are still missing from the incident site.
Landslides caused by incessant rains have also been reported from at least areas in Maharashtra. At Ghatkopar in Mumbai’s suburbs, a house was damaged due to a landslide and other six houses were reportedly damaged in landslides in Ratnagiri district.
Every year as the monsoon covers the country, landslides at several places become almost regular. While some places like Assam face nature’s wrath more severely, others are saved by a whisker from major damage to life and property.
Let’s understand what are landslides and what causes them:
What is a landslide?
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of “mass wasting,” which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
The term “landslide” encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows. These are further subdivided by the type of geologic material (bedrock, debris, or earth). Debris flows (commonly referred to as mudflows or mudslides) and rock falls are examples of common landslide types.
The National Disaster Management Authority explained the occurrence with the help of an illustration on Twitter.