SaveTheHills(STH) is a group of concerned citizens who are raising awareness about landslides in Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya. Many landslides are the direct or indirect result of human interference and preventable if sufficient care is taken. As such, unless we begin a comprehensive and sustained program towards landslide management, prevention and mitigation, the consequences of ignoring years of human callousness will, in the future be devastating.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
STH Activities : With Component 'V' of NDMA team for drawing up a National Strategy on Landslide Risk Managment (24-25Oct2016)
Subsequent to the first meeting called by NDMA for the Formulation of a National Strategy on Landslide Risk Management, Component 'V' which is responsible for preparation of Mountain Zone Regulations and Policies met for two days in Kalimpong.
Being a member of this Component,I am extremely happy that the 6 member team could visit the Chibo-Pashyor landslide area in Kalimpong and also interact with affected members of the community in a focused group discussion.
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
Being a member of this Component,I am extremely happy that the 6 member team could visit the Chibo-Pashyor landslide area in Kalimpong and also interact with affected members of the community in a focused group discussion.
For those interested, the following six major components have been formed for formulating the National Landslide Strategy by the NDMA :-
I. Generation of User-Friendly Landslide Hazard Maps
II. Development of Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System (EWS)
III.Awareness Programmes
IV. Capacity Building and Training of stakeholders
V. Preparation of Mountain Zone Regulations & Policies
VI. Stabilization and Mitigation of Landslides & Creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Landslide Management
I. Generation of User-Friendly Landslide Hazard Maps
II. Development of Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System (EWS)
III.Awareness Programmes
IV. Capacity Building and Training of stakeholders
V. Preparation of Mountain Zone Regulations & Policies
VI. Stabilization and Mitigation of Landslides & Creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Landslide Management
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
Sunday, November 13, 2016
STH Activities : With IIIT (Hyderabad) team for landslide familiarization (08/09Oct2016)
One of the central roles of STH has been spreading awareness about landslides - a hazard form whose impact on mountain communities has been neglected and under-estimated to a large degree the world over.
As such we have used every opportunity to engage with visiting teams both from India and abroad in the many landslide familiarization visits we have made over the years - records of all such visits are documented in this blog. In Oct 2016 as a part of this program, we took two visiting delegates of IIIT (Hyderabad) for a tour of landslides in and around Kalimpong on 08/09Oct2016. The institute is working on landslide prediction equipment which they would probably be installing in the Chibo-Pashyor landslide zone.
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong'
Dist Darjeeling
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Thursday, October 27, 2016
STH stormwatch : Death of Cyclone 'Kyant'
Extract of JTWC statement on Cyclone 'KYANT' :-
' UPPER-LEVEL ANALYSIS SHOWS A POINT SOURCE JUST TO THE EAST OF THE SYSTEM INTRODUCING SOME EASTERLY WIND SHEAR NOT CONDUCIVE FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE UPPER LEVEL ENVIRONMENT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNFAVORABLE AS THE DEEP-LAYERED RIDE BUILDS ESTABLISHING PREDOMINANT EASTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THE REMNANTS OF TS KYANT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON A TRACK TO THE WEST-SOUTHWEST ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE BUILDING DEEP-LAYERED RIDGE TO THE NORTHWEST. THIS IS THE FINAL WARNING ON THIS SYSTEM BY THE JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI. THE SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF REGENERATION.'
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
' UPPER-LEVEL ANALYSIS SHOWS A POINT SOURCE JUST TO THE EAST OF THE SYSTEM INTRODUCING SOME EASTERLY WIND SHEAR NOT CONDUCIVE FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE UPPER LEVEL ENVIRONMENT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNFAVORABLE AS THE DEEP-LAYERED RIDE BUILDS ESTABLISHING PREDOMINANT EASTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THE REMNANTS OF TS KYANT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON A TRACK TO THE WEST-SOUTHWEST ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE BUILDING DEEP-LAYERED RIDGE TO THE NORTHWEST. THIS IS THE FINAL WARNING ON THIS SYSTEM BY THE JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI. THE SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF REGENERATION.'
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
Monday, October 24, 2016
STH Stormwatch (24Oct2016) : Storm in bay intensifies into a DEEP depression
Update 1 (25Oct2016) :- Cyclone 'Kyant is born
This is the second cyclone in the Bay in 2016 after Cyclone 'Roanu'
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong
Dist Darjeeling
This is the second cyclone in the Bay in 2016 after Cyclone 'Roanu'
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong
Dist Darjeeling
Friday, October 21, 2016
STH Stormwatch : Depression in the Bay of Bengal (21Oct2016)
Updates will be posted as necessary
Update 1 (JTWC IR image of two storms in our region)
Predicted storm track (shown in RED) is an approximation (NOT accurate!).
Update 2 (23Oct2016)
Update 3 (23Oct2016) - IMD predicted track
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
Update 1 (JTWC IR image of two storms in our region)
Predicted storm track (shown in RED) is an approximation (NOT accurate!).
Update 2 (23Oct2016)
Update 3 (23Oct2016) - IMD predicted track
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)





















