Why this matters now
Earthquake and landslide management is examined for seismic vulnerability, building codes/retrofitting and landslide mitigation — especially relevant to the Himalayas and hilly regions.
Seismic vulnerability
India is divided into four seismic zones (II to V) by the BIS, with the Himalayan belt and the North-East (Zone V) most at risk. Earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted, so the priority is to make structures and communities resilient to shaking.
Earthquake management
Key measures: enforcing earthquake-resistant building codes (BIS) and safe land-use; retrofitting vulnerable existing buildings (and lifeline structures like hospitals); public awareness and drills; rapid search-and-rescue (NDRF) capacity; and incorporating seismic risk into urban planning. Even seconds of early warning can help.
Landslide management
Landslides — common in the Himalayas and Western Ghats — are triggered by heavy rain, earthquakes, deforestation and unplanned construction/road-cutting. Management includes hazard mapping and zonation, slope stabilisation and drainage, afforestation, regulating construction, and early-warning systems.
The way forward
Because these hazards strike without warning, the emphasis must be on prevention and preparedness — strict code enforcement, retrofitting, ecologically sensitive development in fragile zones, and community readiness — to reduce the toll when they occur.
UPSC angle
Know the four BIS seismic zones (V = highest, Himalaya/NE), that earthquakes can’t be predicted (so codes/retrofitting/preparedness matter), and landslide causes/mitigation in fragile hill zones.
Frequently asked questions
How many seismic zones is India divided into?
Four — Zones II to V — with Zone V (the Himalayas and North-East) the most earthquake-prone.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No reliable prediction is possible, so management focuses on earthquake-resistant construction, retrofitting and preparedness.
What causes landslides in India?
Heavy rainfall, earthquakes, deforestation and unplanned construction/road-cutting, especially in the Himalayas and Western Ghats.
How are earthquake risks reduced?
Through enforcing building codes, retrofitting vulnerable structures, public awareness and drills, and seismic-sensitive urban planning.