Guwahati, 30 June (HS): The Kamrup Metropolitan district administration on Tuesday renewed its warning for residents living in landslide-prone hill areas of Guwahati, urging them to remain vigilant during the monsoon season. The advisory follows a detailed survey that identified 366 vulnerable locations across 20 hill regions of the city.

According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the survey covered areas including Navagraha, Narakasur, Narengi, Noonmati, Shantipur, Sharania, Sukreswar, Fatasil, Garbhanga, Gotanagar, Hengrabari, Jalukbari-Lankeswar, Kahilipara, Kalapahar, Kamakhya-Nilachal, Khanapara, Kharguli, Koinadhara and Maligaon. Kharguli recorded the highest number of vulnerable sites at 77, followed by Noonmati (40), Narengi (37), Khanapara (33), Maligaon (31) and Jalukbari-Lankeswar (30).

The study revealed that nearly 95% of the identified landslide-prone locations are linked to human activities, while only 5% are attributed to natural causes. Hill cutting, construction on steep slopes, inadequate drainage systems and unplanned urban expansion were cited as the primary reasons for increasing slope instability.

The survey further found that 88% of the vulnerable slopes have an inclination of up to 60 degrees, while 7% exceed that gradient. It also noted that 45% of the sensitive slopes have no vegetation cover, significantly increasing the risk of soil erosion and landslides. Only 19% of the locations have adequate tree cover capable of stabilising the slopes.

Based on geological assessment, 62% of the vulnerable sites consist of a mixture of rock and soil, 34% are primarily soil-based and 4% are entirely rocky. The report also warned that 74% of the identified locations require immediate intervention to safeguard lives and property.

To strengthen monitoring and disaster preparedness, all vulnerable sites have been mapped using Google Earth. The report recommends strict regulation of hill cutting, improved drainage infrastructure, extensive afforestation and scientific land-use planning to reduce the growing landslide risk in Guwahati.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash