1880 Nainital landslide
 | |
| Date | 18 September 1880 |
|---|---|
| Location | Nainital, India |
| Also known as | Landslip of 1880 |
| Type | landslide |
| Deaths | 151 |
The Nainital Landslide of 1880, also known as the Landslip of 1880, occurred on September 18 at the northern end of Nainital, resulting in the deaths of 151 people.[1][2] This disaster took place during the British period and was preceded by earlier landslides in the same area. The first recorded landslide happened in 1866, followed by a larger one in 1879 at Alma Hill.[3] However, the most devastating landslide occurred in 1880, causing significant destruction and loss of life.[4]
History
[edit]Between September 16 and 18, 1880, Nainital experienced continuous heavy rainfall, accumulating approximately 33 inches.[5] The prolonged precipitation led to extensive ground saturation, which increased the instability of the hillside formations. On the afternoon of September 18, 1880, a portion of the steep slopes of Cheena Hill and the surrounding areas collapsed, which resulted in a large-scale landslide. This event caused severe destruction and buried parts of the town under debris.
Aftermath
[edit]Between 1881 and 1895, reconstruction efforts took place in Nainital, during which authorities sought advice from geotechnical experts to enhance drainage systems to prevent further landslides.[6] The British colonial administration established a drainage network spanning 79 kilometers along the hill slopes to manage rainfall runoff and improve the region's stability.[7]
Gallery
[edit]-
Nainital after the landslide in 1880 -
View of Nainital from the part that caused the 1880 landslide, 1885
References
[edit]- ^ "Landslide Of Nainital 1880". Nainital.Info. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ Gokhale, Namita (2023-09-18). "In fiction: The great cloudburst and landslide of September 18, 1880 in Nainital". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "Sher-ka-Danda landslide of 1880 - Risk Prevention Mitigation and Management Forum". 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "No lessons were learnt from the history of Nainital, geography was tampered with; devastation like 1880 may happen again".
- ^ Gokhale, Namita (2023-09-18). "In fiction: The great cloudburst and landslide of September 18, 1880 in Nainital". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ Pande, Mrinal (2021-10-21). "How iconic Naini lake in Nainital got destroyed". National Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "Landslides, road cave-ins trigger eco fears in Nainital". Hindustan Times. 2018-09-18. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2025-02-25.