“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. (200 words)

The young, tectonically active Himalayas combine fragile geology, steep relief and intense monsoon processes, making them exceptionally landslide-prone.

Risk factors

• Plate convergence, faults, folded rocks, weathering and seismicity weaken slopes.
• Cloudbursts, prolonged rain, snowmelt and river undercutting raise pore-water pressure.
• Road cutting, blasting, deforestation, mining, unplanned construction and hydropower projects destabilise terrain.

Measures

• Hazard zonation, slope-sensitive land-use planning, drainage and bio-engineering should guide development.
• Retaining walls, rock bolting, check dams and controlled excavation must follow site studies.
• Early warning, rainfall thresholds, resilient roads, evacuation plans and community preparedness reduce losses.

Keywords: young fold mountains, seismicity, pore pressure, hazard zonation, bio-engineering, early warning.