Question

. What causes landslides?

Answer 1

Landslides :

Rapid movement of land along with soil ,rocks and vegetation over it. The destruction extent depends upto the height of the area from where the land is displaced.

This is a common phenomenon in the Western Ghats , Himalayas and Nilgiri .

The occurance is slow , gradual and is a natural disaster that has no warning.

Causes :

• Earthquake
• Heavy rains
• Cloud Bursts
• Heavy snowfall
• Deforestation
• Volcanic eruption

Landslides are mostly caused due to deforestation. Roots of the trees hold the soil and under it does not let it slide down. When trees are cut ; roots leave the soil they hold and landslides result.

Effects :

• Destruction of transport and communication
• Agricultural fields get damaged and villages get destroyed.
• Rivers change thier channels

Preparedness :

• Practice Afforestation
• There should be a detailed analysis of the area before the construction over slopes.
• Relocation must be quick.

Answer 2

Answer :

1. Various types of natural disasters like earthquake, tsunami heavy rains, storms,floods can result into landslide.
2. The indiscriminate cutting down of the tress can result into soil erosion. Soil. erosion in turn results into landslide.
3. The construction of roads, bridges, railway tracks, etc. on the mountain slopes result into lot of digging. Such activities make soil cover loose. From the slopes the soil and rocks then can slide easily. This results into landslides.