Landslide Occurrences and Community-Based Risk Reduction Along the State Highway-12 Adjacent to Lesser Himalayas: Research Insights

The Kalimpong district of West Bengal stretches overlesser Himalaya which is highly susceptible to landslides along the SH-12. The research offers valuable insights into the relationship between natural hazards and human systems in this area and also investigates the affected institutions and communities to manage landslide.The present research attempts to explore the important factors responsible for slope instability and the critical examination of attributes underscores the complex interplay of geological, topographical, and environmental factors which mainly includes the steepness of the slope, low strength of rock, porosity and permeability of rocks and active soil erosion. Additionally, to investigate the community-based adaptation practices (CAP) to prevent landslide occurrences, Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) has been applied. For stakeholders and decision makers it emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive understanding and proactive mitigation strategies to mitigate their potentially devastating impacts on human settlements and infrastructure.