Rise in human activity in sensitive hilly areas behind disasters: Experts

Considering the landslide at Malin village of Ambegaon taluka, in which nearly 150 people are feared to have died, as a warning bell, geological experts have said such disasters are more man-made in nature than natural. According to them, leveling of slope and de-forestation might be the main reasons for the Malin landslide.

"This landslide is possibly due to human activities, like farming and road construction," said Dr Satish Thigale, former head of department, geology, University of Pune (UoP). The hill area is full of soil and the trees hold the soil together. Due to tree-cutting, the soil structure becomes unstable and torrential rains convert the soil into mud, resulting in a landslide, said experts.

Thigale studied the Ambegaon region after a landslide in 2003. "That landslide too appeared to be man-made in nature. The nearby areas had bent trees and light poles, along with cracks in soil structure. Before that landslide, there were reports of trees being cut for construction of houses and roads," he added.

Agreeing with Thigale, professor of geology, UoP, SJ Sangode said, "The state has many landslide-prone areas with sensitive soil structure, but there is no specific list mentioning them."

While the Ambegaon area is known as a landslide- and earthquake-prone zone, the two geologists say increased human activities in already sensitive and unstable hilly areas trigger disasters and increase their impact.