Disaster management strategy for potential slide zones of Kumarkhera in Narendra Nagar township of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

PurposeKumarkhera in Narendra Nagar township of Lesser Himalaya (Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand in India) is showing signs of an impending disaster. The potential mass wastage zone may take toll of human lives in the near future and cause damage to residential and commercial area and infrastructure, namely road, telephone and electric lines and water supply lines. This paper aims to document the strategy for managing this potential disaster.Design/methodology/approachStudy of satellite images and field investigations were carried out in order to probe the possibility of potential landslides in the near future and to find out the risk enhancing anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, the elements at risk were also assessed in order to evolve a disaster management strategy.FindingsIt is suggested that a series of prevention and mitigation measures (both structural and non‐structural) with the involvement of the local community are required to avoid an impending disaster in the study area.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the need for reading the signs of landslides and identifying the elements at risk and also calls for timely initiatives, including structural and non‐structural mitigation measures, so that the impact of the disaster can be minimized.