"DEVASTATING LANDSLIDES AND RAIN CLAIM LIVES, STRAND TOURISTS IN SIKKIM”

Why in the news?

Six people were killed, and 1,500 tourists were stranded due to landslides and heavy rain in Sikkim’s Mangan district and north Bengal.
Torrential rains caused flooding and infrastructure damage, including the collapse of a bridge and blocked roads, leading to evacuation alerts.

About landslides:

A landslide is the downward movement of rock, soil, and debris on a slope.
Scale: It ranges from small shifts to large, destructive events.
Causes: Triggered by factors like heavy rainfall, earthquakes, human activities, and changes in groundwater levels.
Types: Classified into slides (rotational and translational), flows (earth flows, debris flows, mudflows, and creep), spreads, topples, and falls.

source:geolearn

Key Government Initiatives to Mitigate Landslide Risk:

National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (2019).
Landslide Atlas of India: Prepared by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO
National Guidelines on Landslides and Snow Avalanches:Prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to guide risk mitigation activities.

Key facts about Sikkim:

Location: Northeastern India, bordered by Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and West Bengal.
Capital: Gangtok.
Geography: Part of the Himalayas, with diverse landscapes including snow-capped peaks and verdant valleys.
Highest Point: Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
Climate: Varies from subtropical to high alpine
Rivers: Teesta is the major river, accompanied by its tributary Rangeet.
Lakes: Notable lakes include Tsongmo, Gurudongmar, and Khecheopalri.
Glaciers: Over 80 glaciers, including the Zemu Glacier.

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