GSI joins hands with Darjeeling administration to bring early landslide warning to benefit people

MP | Kolkata: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in a joint effort with the Darjeeling district administration, has deployed a People-Centric Landslide Early Warning System (L-EWS), for the first time in the country at Giddapahar village at Kurseong block in Darjeeling. 

"This is an experimental L-EWS, wherein community plays an important role in managing the warning for rainfall triggered landslides. Giddapahar is one of the most landslide prone areas in Darjeeling district, where landslides are being reported since 2003. The village is located over the crown of an active rock slide, which reactivated several times in the last two decades," a senior GSI official said. 

It may be mentioned that the houses and grounds have developed cracks and show signs of active mass movement. 

In 2016, the Landslide Studies Division of Geohazards Research and Management (GHRM) Centre of GSI Kolkata had studied this landslide zone, with an aim to develop an early warning system. 

The area has been studied using modern InSAR technology by putting five corner reflectors and rainfall threshold analysis for landslide initiation within the Kurseong area and finally, the results culminated in the development of the People-Centric L-EWS. GSI, being the nodal agency for landslide studies, is working on different aspects of landslides. 

But with villages being located in remote areas and examples of landslide disasters happening at night (Limbudhura village landslide in Mirik, Malin landslide located slightly away from main centre, Malpa landslide located in remote high Himalayan terrain etc.), warning people about the impending danger has always been a challenge for GSI. Shallow, fast moving rainfall-induced landslides are one of the most common types that kill several people every year. 

"People Centric L-EWS is ideal for landslides as their spatio-temporal forecasting is extremely difficult, particularly from a remote distance," the GSI official said. 

It may be mentioned that the local community is the first responder in case of a disaster and therefore they should be made aware of the surroundings where they live, the hazard present and ways to monitor them for timely response. A billboard showing all details of landslide warning has been erected at Giddapahar and at Paglajhora, to make the local community aware of the system and also to spread awareness among the people. 

"This is a significant step in reducing landslide risk in the area. An effective utilisation of the system will ensure reduction in loss of life due to landslide. We are taking all measures for that," a senior district official in Darjeeling said.