Landsliding and its Management in Naseeranager, Meppadi, Wayanad, Kerala

Wayanad is one of the beautiful hill stations located in the Western Ghats on the north eastern part of Kerala state. Out of fourteen districts of Kerala, Wayanad is considered as most backward (least developed) district. DM Education and Research Foundation, after studying the needs of the people and lacuna in the health care facilities in Wayanad area, decided to set up DM WIMS at Naseeranagar. Landslides, defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris or earth down a slope, can be triggered by a variety of external stimulus, such as intense rainfall, earthquake shaking, water level change, storm waves or rapid stream erosion that cause a rapid increase in shear stress or decrease in shear strength of slope forming materials. ]. Landslide hazards stand the second geological hazards following earthquake. Therefore in Naseeranagar there is always timely action and reactions are taken to reduce damage to the nature, buildings, road and human life. Landsliding is very well prevented by modification of the slope geometry by excavation, drainage of surface and ground water, use of retaining structures, and internal slope reinforcement. Increase in settlements at hill tops, both slope and rock dipping outwards from the ghat sections, continuous heavy rains are the characteristic features behind the Wayanad landslides.