Landslide Atlas of Kerala

Abstract

Landslide refers to the downhill movement of earth materials under the influence of gravity, conditioned by one or some terrain and triggering factors.

Landslides constitute a major geologic hazard because they are widespread (www.usgs.gov). A global data set of landslides that resulted in loss of life between A.D. 2004 and 2010 accounts to 2,620 fatal landslides, causing a total of 32,322 recorded fatalities (Petley 2012). The Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and the Eastern Ghats of India experience landslide of varying intensity, primarily during the monsoons. Approximately 12% of land area in India is under the threat of landslides (www.gsi.gov.in).