Earthquake and rain are the two major factors responsible for landslides and so the recent quake in Nepal could cause more landslides in the Himalayan region, especially during the monsoons, said scientist Vikram Gupta from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology. Stating that seismic tremors may have loosened the soil and rock in areas which would be prone to experiences landslides during the rains, Gupta, who has worked on landslide hazard and risk assessment in the Himalayas, pointed out that countries like Japan have achieved a lot in implementing effective mitigation measures to keep earthquake losses to a minimum. With research on scope for predicting earthquakes continuing, the focus of authorities in seismically sensitive regions is on ensuring effective mitigation and prevention measures to minimise the damage to life and property from earthquakes, he added.
