To mitigate recurring landslide threat, experts to study 89 affected villages in Kullu district

A team of experts will conduct an extensive study of 89 landslide-affected villages in Kullu district to understand this recurring problem and suggest mitigating measures. The decision comes after landslides triggered by heavy rain during the monsoon season caused unprecedented damage in large parts of the region this year, leaving several villages on the brink of disappearance.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh has constituted a six-member committee headed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to investigate the causes of frequent landslides. The committee includes representatives of the Forest Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Jal Shakti Department, Block Development Office and disaster mitigation experts from the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Mohal, Kullu. The team will analyse the causes of landslides and suggest protective measures for vulnerable areas. It is expected to submit a report before the onset of the monsoon next year.

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, “The committee will carry out a scientific study in 89 villages across 71 revenue circles affected by landslides this year. Its findings will not only determine the causes of landslides but also recommend preventive and conservation strategies.”

Nirmand subdivision has been identified as the most affected area, where 29 villages had reported severe landslides, followed by Banjar (24), Anni (19), Kullu (12), and Manali (five). Some of the landslide-affected villages are Parsha, Solang and Chachoga in Manali; Bagan, Katrain and Ramshila in Kullu; Duguvi, Thardhar, and Kushwa in Nirmand; Sharai, Kotladhar and Mashina Nala in Banjar; and Shamdi, Kathla and Thaboli in Anni subdivision.

The monsoon wreaked havoc in Kullu this year, causing extensive damage in both urban and rural areas. Continuous heavy rainfall for nearly two and a half months led to massive slope failures, soil erosion and the loss of houses and agricultural land. Many of these villages had already been identified as sensitive during the 2023 floods but new regions had now emerged as high-risk zones.

Earlier, a two-member team from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had conducted a post-disaster assessment in the Inner Akhara Bazaar area of Kullu town on September 18. Two devastating landslides in the Inner Akhara Bazaar area had claimed 10 lives and injured two others.

The frequency of landslides in the Himalayan region is increasing due to unplanned construction, deforestation and changing rainfall patterns. This comprehensive study is expected to give crucial insightful suggestions to shape future disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies for Himachal Pradesh.