Having seen countless landslides and talked to hundreds of landslide victims in my almost 20 years of working on this hazard, there is lots to be elated about...much has progressed in the study and mitigation of this earlier underrated hazard.
Yet a common misconception is that a landslide is a massive hill collapsing (which it often is) and thousands dying (rarely happens) and that mitigation of landslides involves lots of complicated engineering which is stupendously costly (which also maybe true).
However, in the midst of all this what we are witnessing with a change of rainfall patterns is that there is a manifold increase in the surface runoff from intense rainfall - simply because there is so much more concrete and asphalt in the mountains today in our urban centers and our drainage system remains abysmal to handle these huge volumes of high velocity water.
So the landslides which have emerged as a big menace in all our mountain urban centres are a human induced smallish slips, which in a densely populated area can kill people.
I am reproducing a report on a landslide which took place in the Kalimpong Municipal area on 13Jul2026:
Landslide Damage Assessment Report
Date of Visit: 15 July 2026
Date of Incident: 13 July 2026
Time of Incident: Approximately 4:30 a.m.
Location of Incident: Ward No. 20, 9th Mile, Kalimpong Municipality, below Rockvale Academy School, Kalimpong
A field visit was conducted to assess the impact of the landslide that occurred on 13 July 2026, understand the condition of the affected households, identify their immediate needs, and observe any continuing risks at the site.
Incident Overview
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Mon, 13 July 2026, a landslide struck a residential area, affecting two households. One house was completely damaged, while the second sustained partial damage. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported due to the timely response of the affected families and the immediate assistance provided by neighbours and the local community.
Household 1 - Mr. Asta Ratna Bajracharya
Mr. Asta Ratna Bajracharya, aged 60 years, works as a local school transport driver and is the head of a household comprising seven family members. At the time of the incident, however, only Mr. Bajracharya and his 55-year-old wife were present in the house.
According to Mr. Bajracharya, at around 4:30 a.m., they heard an initial loud sound from outside. Assuming it was a tree falling due to the continuous rainfall, they did not immediately suspect any danger. A few moments later, they heard a second, louder sound, which caused them to wake up. As they were getting up, a third and much louder impact occurred when the landslide struck the house.
Mr. Bajracharya explained that the landslide primarily impacted the opposite side of the house from the room where he and his wife were sleeping. This provided them with enough time to react and escape. As the usual exit was no longer accessible, they climbed out through a window. Once outside, they were able to see the extent of the damage caused by the landslide.
The first response was provided by nearby neighbours and members of the local Samaj, who immediately came to assist the couple. Shortly afterwards, personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services arrived at the site. They broke through a section of the damaged wall and assisted in retrieving household belongings that remained trapped inside the house.
The house has been completely damaged and is no longer safe for occupancy. Fortunately, no lives were lost, no livestock was affected, and all-important documents were recovered safely. Mr. Bajracharya and his wife are currently staying in a nearby rented accommodation. They informed that the rental expenses are presently being taken care of through support from the concerned authorities. At present, they do not have any immediate relief needs. Their primary concern is access to a safe and permanent house.
During the discussion, Mr. Bajracharya stated that one of the major contributing factors to the landslide was the poor maintenance of the drainage system. He explained that the drain had frequently become clogged due to indiscriminate dumping of waste. He further shared that he had personally taken the initiative on several occasions to clean the drain and had even installed a signboard requesting people not to dispose of waste in the area. Despite these efforts, waste dumping continued, resulting in blocked drainage and diversion of rainwater towards the slope.
Household 2 - Mr. Sukraj Bajracharya
Mr. Sukraj Bajracharya, aged 86 years, lives with his 81-year-old wife in a household comprising nine family members, including two school-going children. On the day of the incident, seven family members were present in the house.
Mr. Sukraj Bajracharya shared that he usually wakes up early in the morning and was the first to hear the unusual sound outside. Realizing that something was wrong, he immediately alerted the other family members and asked them to move to a safer area of the house. His prompt response ensured that everyone evacuated safely before the situation worsened.
The landslide caused partial damage to the house. Although there was no major structural collapse, a significant amount of mud and debris entered the house, and a portion of the wall had tilted, making the building unsafe for habitation. At the time of the visit, debris was still present inside the house, and some household belongings had yet to be removed.
The family has temporarily shifted to a nearby rented accommodation, where the rental expenses are currently being supported through external assistance. They have also received support from the local Samaj and other individuals. Similar to the first household, they reported no immediate relief needs other than the need for a safe and permanent house.
Mr. Sukraj Bajracharya also expressed the view that poor drainage maintenance and the blockage of drains due to waste accumulation were among the major factors that contributed to the landslide.
Observations
During the site visit, it was observed that the slope above the affected houses remains unstable. Several bamboo clumps on the upper slope were visibly tilted, indicating the possibility of further slope movement if continuous rainfall persists.
Both affected households consistently identified poor drainage maintenance as one of the major contributing factors to the landslide. They stated that drains had frequently become blocked due to indiscriminate waste disposal. In addition, it was observed that construction materials such as stones, pebbles, and aggregates had been stored along sections of the roadside. During periods of heavy rainfall, these materials can obstruct the natural flow of surface runoff, divert water towards vulnerable slopes, and contribute to blockage of drainage channels.
The assessment highlights the importance of regular drain maintenance,
- Report by Stephen Lepcha,
Anugyalaya
Rainfall Data
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Notice that we had 3 dry days prior to the landslide occurring on 13July morning and also, the rainfall both in the amount (91.6mm) and intensity (instant peak approx 100mm/hr) was not very high. I am glad to report that despite the loss to property no one died in this landslide but this blog is replete with reports of fatal anthropogenic landslides in urban settings and the one which I remember most, is where a mother and her two children lost their lives. It occurred just 5 mins from my home in 2010. |
Yet the solution to managing this type of landslide is deceptively simple and does not involve complex engineering or huge costs. Simply put it is:
a.
Short term: Manage the water flow; keep our drains clean during the monsoons so that water does not accumulate and cause slope failure. Create quick reaction teams within the community and equip them with power tools to effect a quick rescue.
b.
Medium term: During the dry season, repair unstable slopes using bioengineering and other methods so that they are safer during the next monsoons. Repair and enlarge drains and keep our jhoras (natural drains) clean.
c.
Long term: Work on raising awareness among the public and govt officials towards creating a safer environment.
My thanks to Stephen for his report and photos.
Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744
