Why Are Landslides Increasing in India? Examining the Underlying Causes

The increasing frequency and scale of landslides across India are not solely a result of natural geographical conditions. Several factors contribute to this issue, including shifts in rainfall patterns, climate change, deforestation, and unregulated construction in ecologically fragile zones. This information comes from a senior scientist at the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The GSI Director General clarified that while pollution doesn’t directly cause landslides, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions accelerate climate change. These changes affect rainfall patterns, thereby increasing the likelihood of landslides in several regions of India, especially in geologically sensitive areas like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.