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Himalayan hazards and mitigation

Short answer

Major Himalayan hazards are earthquakes, landslides and debris flows, floods, GLOF, avalanches, soil erosion, and subsidence. Mitigation involves hazard mapping and zoning, landslide and flood control structures, GLOF monitoring and lake lowering, earthquake-resistant design, afforestation, and community preparedness.

Describe the major geological hazards of the Himalayas and their mitigation measures.

Major geological hazards of the Himalaya

  1. Earthquakes from active thrusts (MFT, MBT, MCT), e.g. the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.
  2. Landslides, rock falls and debris flows on steep slopes of weak rock during the monsoon.
  3. Floods and flash floods; river bank erosion and sedimentation (Terai).
  4. GLOF and LDOF in the high mountains.
  5. Snow avalanches and glacier hazards.
  6. Soil erosion and gullying in the Siwaliks.
  7. Subsidence and karst in limestone areas.

Mitigation measures

  1. Hazard mapping, zoning and land-use control; avoiding dangerous locations.
  2. Landslide control: drainage, slope grading, retaining walls, rock bolts, bio-engineering, and check dams for debris flows.
  3. Flood control: embankments, spurs, river training, early warning.
  4. GLOF: monitoring, lake-level lowering, early warning systems.
  5. Earthquake-resistant design following NBC, retrofitting, avoiding active faults.
  6. Afforestation, watershed management and controlled road construction.
  7. Community awareness, disaster preparedness and monitoring.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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