- 2079 Chaitra · 1 mark
Why the Himalaya is vulnerable
Short answer
Young, tectonically active mountains with continuing plate collision (4-5 cm/yr), highly folded/fractured rocks, steep slopes, intense monsoon rainfall, weak rocks, frequent earthquakes, glacier melting, deforestation, and unplanned construction.
Why are the Himalayas so vulnerable?
The Himalaya is vulnerable to geological hazards because:
- It is a young, tectonically active mountain formed by the continuing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates; India moves north by about 4-5 cm per year.
- Rocks are highly folded, faulted and fractured, with active thrusts such as MFT, MBT and MCT.
- Very steep slopes and high relief give high gravitational energy.
- Intense monsoon rainfall saturates slopes and increases erosion.
- Many rocks are weak (phyllite, schist, Siwalik mudstone).
- Frequent earthquakes, glacier melting and deforestation add to the instability.
- Rapid, unplanned road construction and human settlement increase the risk.
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