Express News Service
The latest report by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has expressed concern over the threat of landslides in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts. This is the second ISRO report after January this year that said the entire city of Joshimath could be submerged due to land subsidence.
The recently released landslide map report by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) reveals the terrifying potential of Chamoli and Rudraprayag. The report analyzes the risk of landslides across the hill state. The report said that 13 districts of Uttarakhand are among the 147 most landslide-prone districts in the country. Among them, Chamoli ranks 19th in the country in terms of landslide risk. Rudraprayag is the most prone to landslides in the country and Tehri ranks second among the 10 most vulnerable districts in the country in terms of landslide risk.
Dr DP Doval, a former scientist at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, told this newspaper: “The entire Himalayan region is vulnerable to landslides. There should be a detailed study based on this NRSC report including forecasting factors such as landslides and actual loss of population.
“It can help policymakers decide what kind of planning they need to do,” Doval said.
According to the report, 13 districts of Uttarakhand are among the 147 most landslide-prone districts. Among them, Chamoli district ranks 19th in the country in terms of landslide risk.
Notably, Joshimath town in Chamoli district is already hit by landslides.
Scientists are technologically investigating it and realizing the dangers. However, satellite image reports show that Uttarkashi ranks 21st in the country. Pauri Garhwal is ranked 23rd and Dehradun district is ranked 29th.
The report also highlighted that “Rudraprayag is the district with the highest landslide density in the country. That means this district is most vulnerable to social and economic damage due to landslides. The situation is the same in Tehri district.
Both these districts are geographically smaller than other districts. Even in this sense, the density of landslides appears to be greater, Doval said.
According to the NRSC report, 11 out of 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh are known to be sensitive. NRSC’s landslide risk analysis covers 11 districts out of 147 districts in that state. Mandi district is the most prone to landslides in the state. The position of this district is 16th in the country.
Hamirpur is ranked 25th, Bilaspur 30th, Chamba 32nd, Solan 37th, Kinnar 46th, Kullu 57th, Shimla 61st, Una 70th, Sirumar 88th and Lahaul Spiti 126th.
The ISRO report states that 14 districts of J&K are included in the list of landslide-prone districts. Among them, Rajouri is the fourth most landslide-prone district in the country and Poonch the sixth most affected district.
