A new paper (Dalal et al. 2025) in the journal Engineering Geology examines movement of a major landslide complex in India. It shows that the slope reactivated in 2018, probably as a result of the loss of vegetation and poor management of water. Loyal readers will remember a series of posts that I made back […]
Himalayas
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 8 July 2025 catastrophic flood at Rasuwagadhi in Nepal
Yesterday, catastrophic flood swept down the Bhote Kosi river through Tibet and Nepal. At least 28 people have been killed. There is speculation that this might have been a GLOF. On 8 July 2025, a catastrophic mudslide / flood suddenly struck the Rasuwagadhi border crossing point between Tibet and Nepal, causing extensive damage. The Himalayan […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 1 June 2025 landslides at Chaten in Sikkim, India
Nine people have been killed in a series of landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, that have struck an army camp. At about 7 pm local time on 1st June 2025, a series of landslides struck an army camp at Chaten in the Lachen District of Sikkim in India. It is believed that nine people have […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Geological complexity as a way to understand the distribution of landslides
The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley, who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides. Over the course of my career, I have read many papers (and indeed, written a few) that have tried to explain the distribution of landslides based upon combinations of factors that we […]
Posted inOpinions
Beyond Majesty and Myths: Facing the Realities of Mountainside Development
Expansive construction in fragile mountain environments is often pursued without adequate consideration of heightened hazards and local concerns, putting people and infrastructure at greater risk.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
The Complex Evolution of Debris-Covered Glacier Surfaces
A first look at how the surfaces of debris-covered glaciers evolve over time from six years of drone surveys in the Nepal Himalaya.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 26 August 2022 debris flow at Budai Kamar in the Swat Valley, Pakistan
The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley, who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides. On 26 August 2022, an extreme monsoonal rainfall event struck the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan. This is a remote area with poor communications, so this event has not received the attention […]
Posted inAGU News
Geologic Mysteries at 8,000 Meters
Our March issue takes you on an epic journey with the rocks of Mount Everest, from seafloor to summit.
Posted inFeatures
How to Build the World’s Highest Mountain
The rocks of Mount Everest’s peak made an epic journey from seafloor to summit.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 25 April 2024 landslide at Pernote in Ramban District, India
The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley, who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides. For anyone monitoring global landslides, Ramban District in Jammu and Kashmir, India is a familiar name. Located in a highly tectonically active area of the Himalayas, with a monsoonal climate , steep […]