Geographical Perspective of Geomorphological Hazards in Kohima District of Nagaland

Abstract

Kohima, located in northeastern India, is a geologically unstable area with incessant rainfall during pre-monsoon and inter-monsoon periods, making it very prone to geomorphological hazards such as landslides and flash floods. Every year, the region is faced with massive inconvenience due to the high intensity of rainfall, which contributes to the displacement of the already unstable lithology of the district and thus leads to the blockade of roads, damages to houses and properties, loss of vegetative cover, and blocking of rivers and streams by falling debris due to landslides along the rivers. In addition to the natural factors of lithology and climate, the most encroaching anthropogenic activity of road construction has further intensified the situation due to more felling of trees, removal of earth materials and dumping of the removed earth materials on the land itself, resulting in added pressure and thus sinking of land persists.