2 weeks ago
2018 Report Predicted Mumbai Landslide That Killed Eight
Every year, when big rains come to the city of Mumbai, the ground on some hills can get very heavy and slide down.
This week, that happened and it was very sad — a part of a hill broke apart and hurt the homes below, and eight people, including three children, lost their lives.
Scientists from the Geological Survey of India had warned about this hill eight years ago.
They said the hill was very steep and made of loose rocks that could fall.
They told the city to build strong walls and drains to keep people safe.
But the work was never finished.
One reason is that different offices own the land and it takes many approvals to build there.
Also, the money to fix the hill slowed down after 2023.
A local leader said he told the city about the danger a few months ago, but nobody listened.
Now everyone is saying that the warnings should have been taken more seriously so such a sad event could have been prevented.
A landslide triggered by heavy rain in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, killed eight people, including three children, and injured seven others on Wednesday.
The Geological Survey of India's 2018 risk assessment warned that Hill No. 3 at Saki Naka faced a risk of rock fall posing a threat to life.
The GSI report recommended retaining walls, drainage systems and a halt to slope cutting, but none of the protective works were carried out.
Hill No. 3 was added to the BMC's landslide-prone zones list in 2023 with a retaining wall marked as a priority, yet the work stalled due to funding issues.
Shiv Sena corporator Vijayendra Shinde said he had flagged the danger in the BMC House in May, urging metal net wiring on the cliff, but was not heeded.
- Who
- The Geological Survey of India, which warned the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation; eight people including three children who were killed; agencies including the BMC, MHADA, PWD and the collector's office.
- What
- A hillside collapsed under heavy rain, killing eight and injuring seven, despite a 2018 GSI report predicting the risk.
- Where
- Hill No. 3 at Saki Naka, Kurla/Ghatkopar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- When
- Wednesday of this week; the GSI warning dates to 2018.
- Why
- Heavy rain uprooted a peepal tree on a steep slope of jointed rock and loose soil, sending boulders onto houses; the risk had been flagged but protective works were never completed.
Civic Administration
GSI and Local Critics
Responsibility for stalled safety works
Civic Administration
Civic officials say the land belongs to the collector's office and the BMC lacked the power to build; a retaining wall plan slowed due to funding problems and the need for approvals from many agencies.
GSI and Local Critics
The GSI and corporator Vijayendra Shinde say the 2018 recommendations were never carried out and the administration ignored warnings, including a May notice of motion urging metal net wiring on the cliff.
Effectiveness of past mitigation
Civic Administration
Officials note that even where retaining walls were built, encroachers sealed the weep-holes, stopping water drainage, weakening the walls and eventually causing them to collapse.
GSI and Local Critics
The GSI argues landslides are aggravated by hill-slope cutting and changes in land use, and that a land-use policy and secure drainage system are needed to avert such disasters.
Key facts
- Death toll
- 8 people, including 3 children
- Injured
- 7 people
- Location
- Hill No. 3, Saki Naka, Kurla/Ghatkopar, Mumbai
- Warning report
- GSI 435-page risk assessment, 2018
- Risk classification
- Class II (highly vulnerable)
- Earlier landslides
- 2005-2008, 16 killed, 26+ houses damaged
- Allocated funds
- Over Rs 400 crore (2020-2023) for Maharashtra landslide measures
- Recommended works
- Retaining walls with weep holes, toe drains, slope stabilization, drainage
Quotes
A BMC civic official
BMC official describing stalled construction plans
“"We had forwarded the GSI recommendation to the collector’s office and state government, following which they had chalked out a plan to construct retaining walls. However, the plan slowed down due to funding issues."”
indianexpress.com
“"We can firmly say that landslides don’t happen all of a sudden but change in slope geometry and land use pattern aggravate it."”
indianexpress.com
Shiv Sena corporator Vijayendra Shinde
Shiv Sena corporator from Kurla warning about missing protective measures
“"In May this year, I had taken notice of motion in BMC House and urged the administration to instal metal net wiring along the cliff of hills. These nets would prevent the rocks from falling… However, the administration didn’t pay heed, and now this incident happened."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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