In which one of the following districts of Uttaranchal did Malpa Landslide disaster take place?

The correct answer is Pithoragarh.

Key Points

• The Malpa landslide was one of the worst landslides in India.
• Malpa is located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand (erstwhile U.P).
• A massive landslide occurred on August 18, 1998, with a series of massive rockfalls in the region.
• The area lies in a seismic zone so, the earthquakes of 1979 and 1980 may have been the underlying cause.
• The landslide prevailed mostly due to steep slopes of rock above the valley.

Landslides:

• It is a downward and outward movement of slope materials like rock debris and earth, under the influence of gravity.
• Causes of Landslides:
  • Largescale excavations especially at the toe of slopes,
  • Deforestation for developmental activities,
  • Erosion of slope due to wind or water,
  • Vegetation removal by forest fires, drought etc.