15 pc of Mussoorie landslide prone; Bhataghat, Kempty fall among most prone. Details here

A study by the scientists at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has found that 15 per cent of Mussoorie hill station in Uttarakhand and its surrounding area is highly susceptible to landslides, a statement said on Monday. It found that the dominant part of the area falling under the very high and high landslide susceptible zone lies in the settlement area -- Bhataghat, George Everest, Kempty fall, Khattapani, Library road, Galogidhar, and Hathipaon -- and is covered by highly fractured Krol limestone exhibiting slope more than 60 degrees. “The increased disaster hazard has led scientists to map the landslide susceptibility of Mussoorie and surrounding areas, showing that 15 percent of the region is highly susceptible to landslides,” the statement said. They found that the dominant part of the area falling under very high and high landslide susceptible zone lies in the settlement area --- Bhataghat, George Everest, Kempty fall, Khattapani, Library road, Galogidhar, and Hathipaon --- and is covered by highly fractured Krol limestone exhibiting slope more than 60 degrees, the statement said. The Landslide Susceptibility Mapping published in the Journal of Earth System Science also showed that about 29 per cent of the area falls in the moderate landslide susceptible zone and 56 per cent in low to very low landslide susceptible zone, it said.