The city has seen 140 such incidents since 2013; activist says relocation of hutment dwellers must be done on priority; at review meet suggestion made to keep temporary shelters ready
A rescuer looks in the mud for survivors of the landslide in Mahul in July. Pic/Sameer Markande
Mumbai has seen 140 incidents of landslides since 2013 and the number has increased in the past few years. This year 29 people died after landslides in Vikhroli and Mahul in July.
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The city has more than 290 spots that are prone to landslides and most of them are in the Eastern suburbs. The city witnessed massive casualties due to landslides in 2000 and 2005. On July 12, 2000, 67 people were killed when more than 100 huts were crushed in a landslide at Azadnagar in Ghatkopar. Another 78 people died in Sakinaka in the July 26, 2005 rain. At least 10 people around the same spot died due to a landslide in 2009. In a similar incident at Antop Hill, 5 people died in 2013.
The casualties were fewer in the past decade, but the number of landslides seems to be increasing in the recent past.
The number of landslides was around 10 from 2013 to 2015. But after that, the incidents increased. In 2018, the city saw 27 incidents of landslides. According to the BMC there are 291 spots that are landslide-prone, out of which 152 are in Bhandup and 32 in Ghatkopar. Out of 24 wards, 19 wards have landslide-prone spots.
“From 1992 to 2020, 290 people died and more than 350 were injured in landslides. After the massive landslide incidents in 2000 and 2005, the slum rehabilitation department had done a survey of houses and the state government had asked the Housing Development and Urban Department to submit a master plan to relocate the huts in 2010. But it remained only on paper,” said Anil Galgali, activist. He added that the current incidents at Mahul and Vikhroli underline the fact that it needs to be done on priority.
Also read: Mumbai: BMC conducts mid- monsoon review to prevent damage due to landslides
A review and coordination meeting of all authorities concerned was held on Friday. “During the meeting, Ashwini Bhide, additional commissioner of the BMC and cof Disaster Management Authority of Suburban District has directed them to ensure more effective implementation of preventive measures at areas prone to landslides in their jurisdiction. The measures include regular checking of vulnerable spots, stability of retaining walls, unhindered flow of water,” said a BMC official.
The representatives of authorities such as Central Railway and Western Railway, Indian Navy, National Disaster Response Authority, Indian Meteorological Department, Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban Collectorate, etc. were present at the meeting.
They suggested keeping ready temporary shelters for those who want to move out of their homes in case of warnings.
Landslides in city
Year No. of landslides
2013 10
2014 8
2015 9
2016 23
2017 14
2018 27
2019 25
2020 14
2021 29
(July)
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