People travelling to the northern areas of Pakistan during the monsoon might face problems due to landsliding, so they have to take measures to stay safe during landsliding.
The monsoon season is a significant weather condition that brings changes in the environment. The seasonal winds usually enter Pakistan from the northeast side, resulting in massive rainfall across the country, especially in the northern regions.
The monsoon season typically lasts from July to September in Pakistan. Furthermore, it is a highly anticipated time for tourists to travel to the northern regions of Pakistan. The monsoon season, however, can cause a few adversities.
Currently, Pakistan is going through a heavy monsoon season that has caused severe urban flooding problems in various regions such as Karachi, Panjgur, Pasni, Mardan, and others. Moreover, landsliding has been a significant issue due to rainstorms in the northern areas of Pakistan.
Northern areas host a large number of local and international tourists during the summers. However, extreme rain and resulting urban flooding and landsliding can be very dangerous for these travellers. Therefore, you must take proper safety and precautionary measures seriously to avoid this natural calamity.
Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, has prepared a comprehensive guide on landslides to help you stay safe during your journey.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan has released disaster response plans for areas that can be highly affected during the monsoon. It also informs the local authorities about all possible dangers and directs them to prepare accordingly.
NDMA also released safety guidelines for tourists travelling during this season. The following are some of the most common dangers:
There are great chances of cloudbusting during the monsoon season, which can eventually cause flash floods in areas incapable of handling large amounts of rainwater.
Moreover, urban flooding damages roads and causes electricity breakdowns throughout the country. It can leave travellers stranded in far-off areas. So, travellers must note weather conditions before starting their journey.
Generally, in monsoon, there is a rise in the number of water-borne diseases like malaria, dengue etc. Diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid can also spread in different areas.
Hence, travellers need to follow proper health guidelines to avoid any inconveniences during their journey.
In the monsoon season, heavy rainfall results in slippery roads, making travelling quite dangerous. As you go higher up in the mountainous areas, the conditions of roads get even worse.
Moreover, some areas are inaccessible by vehicles, and travellers may have to walk miles, which also poses a threat to dangerous accidents. According to NDMA’s reports, at least 8 people have been killed due to extreme rainfalls and landslides in KPK.
The monsoon rainfalls can result in a landslide and it might be difficult to stay safe during landsliding. It refers to when water debris and masses of earth roll down the mountains. This requires extra care and preventive measures.
Landsliding is not just a problem in the northern areas of Pakistan, rather it can occur in any place, depending upon the severity of environmental conditions there.
A landslide is a gravitational-based movement of a mass of debris or earth down a slope. Landslides are considered a kind of “mass wasting”, also known as landslips. There are five basic modes of slope movements: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows subdivided by the type of geologic material involved.
Various reasons can cause landsliding. For example, these can be instigated in sloppy regions that are already prone to movements by any kind of triggers like heavy rainfalls, snowmelt due to climate warming, changes in water level, earthquakes, volcanic activity and eruptions, disturbance by human activities, or any other natural source.
Landslides can be predictable in cases where surfaces are sloppy and there are vivid cracks in the roads or rocks.
To prevent any severe damage due to landslides, the following are some most common warning signs that must be taken care of:
During the monsoon season, certain areas are comparatively more likely to be subject to landslides. For example, areas that have already been affected by landslides in the past face higher risks. Plus, areas at the base or the top of any kind of slope are generally more prone to landslides.
Mountainous areas are more prone to landslides because the rainwater makes paths between the rocks and creates weak spots. Minor drainage hollows in certain areas can also be indicators of massive landslides.
In developed areas such as Murree, Nathia Gali and others, landslides can occur due to leach field septic systems, which are underground wastewater treatment structures.
Landslides usually occur in hilly areas, but their type and severity differ from place to place. The following areas can be considered safe during landslides:
Even though the prediction of landslides is difficult, there are several ways to take appropriate measures beforehand. This can be done by following proper safety measures, recognising potential warning signs, and devising an emergency plan.
The following are some measures that can be adopted to prevent damages due to landslides:
The following are some of the best strategies to adopt:
If by any unfortunate circumstance, you are trapped in an area where you face an immediate danger of landslides, you can take the following measures:
The following measure should be taken to avoid any further damage:
These are some of the safety measures that are effective in avoiding any hazards of intense rainfall:
For more information and guides, visit Graana Blog.
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