More than the devastation caused in Nainital town, Sher-ka-Danda landslide of September 18, 1880 needs to be remembered not only by Disaster Managers but also by the masses for prompt and detailed post-disaster investigations, and enactment of not only mitigation but also monitoring measures undertaken during the British Raj.
18 सितम्बर 1880 को नैनीताल में हुवे शेर-का-डांडा भू-स्खलन ने जहाँ एक ओर इस शहर को नया स्वरुप दिया वही दूसरी ओर भू-स्खलन के 04 दिन बाद गठित रामसे समिति ने केवल 19 दिनों में क्षेत्र का गहन अध्ययन कर भू-स्खलन के कारणों के साथ – साथ भविष्य में इस प्रकार की घटनाओ की पुनरावृत्ति के निराकरण के लिये विस्तृत संस्तुतियाँ भी की। रामसे समिति की संस्तुतियों पर की गयी कार्यवाही के बल पर ही यह शहर लम्बे समय तक भू-स्खलन के खतरे से मुक्त रहा।
आज के समय में जब नैनीताल एक बार फिर से भू-स्खलन का खतरा झेल रहा है, रामसे समिति की संस्तुतियों पर पुनर्विचार करते हुवे इस बात पर गौर करना जरूरी हो जाता है की कही जाने-अनजाने हमने सुरक्षा हेतु सुझाये गये उपायों की अवहेलना करना तो शुरू नहीं कर दिया ?
Though a common occurrence in the Himalayas, particularly during the monsoon period, except for the one at Varunavat Parvat in Uttarkashi on September 23, 2003 no other major landslide in recent times has devastated an urban area.
One of the first well documented landslide resulting in a major disaster in the Himalayan region however took place on the slopes of Sher–ka–Danda on September 18, 1880 and devastated the lake city Nainital in Uttarakhand province.
Sher-ka-Danda landslide
Rains were incessant, and unusually heavy from the morning of September 16, 1880 and between September 17 and 18 Nainital received 838 mm rainfall. The level of Naini lake was rising continuously and it seemed as if the lake waters would flood the town. The stage was set for a mass movement, and it did happen in the morning of September 18, 1880. Rain had not stopped, and large portion of the Sher–ka–Danda hill from above the Victoria Hotel started to crumble.
It was in fact a massive debris slide – saturated with water the dislodged hill slope behaved like a semi–fluid material, and moved downslope with great velocity and violence, burying everything that came in its way including the temple of Naina Devi, the revered deity of local inhabitants – on the northeastern end of the lake. This accompanied loud rumpling noise similar to one caused by falling of large mass of earth, and vast cloud of dust rose from the crumbling hill slope.
After the landslide, jets of water poured for some time from the reservoirs within the hill, along the newly created landslide scar.
Geomorphic changes
Landslide debris covered a portion of the lake at the northern end, and while directing operations at the eastern end of the lake Commissioner, Kumaun Sir Henry Ramsay was overtaken by a mighty wave generated by the debris swept into the lake.
Before the landslip a small recreational ground existed near the northern end of the lake. The landslide of September 18, 1880 however provided space for the development of the Flats. Old temple of Naina Devi having been overrun by landslide debris, new temple was established at the northwestern end of the lake – where the bell of the old temple was found.
Casualties
151 persons were killed in the landslide incidence, and of these 43 were Europeans or Eurasians. A small plot between the Mall and the lake, to the west of the Boat House Club was consecrated as the resting place of these persons. It is at present maintained as a garden.
151 was a big casualty count for Nainital that was discovered only a couple of decades back in 1823 by G.W. Traill, Commissioner of Kumaun and Garhwal, and permanent habitation in the area around Naini lake started in 1841 with P. Barron constructing Pilgrim Lodge. The area however developed at a fast pace and soon became a favourite amongst Europeans. More than connectivity and weather, its being a safe heaven during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 induced Europeans to settle here.
The ground fissures
After the landslide of September 18, 1880 a number of ground fissures opened up around the lake, and could be easily traced; (i) from Mayo Hotel to St. Loo Cottage across Government House, (i) other one further east split into a rock on the summit of the little ridge above Fairlight, (iii) the third proceeded from the Club to the end of the Cheena ridge through the road west of Fairlight.
The mitigation measures after She-ka-Danda landslide
Almost 140 years have passed, and Sher–ka–Danda landslide remains one of the most devastating landslides of the region. This landslide is however remembered not for its fury and devastation, but for prompt post-disaster administrative actions, and enactment of mitigation measures that were recommended after detailed investigations of the surrounding area.
These mitigation measures have successfully averted any major landslide around the lake city despite fast pace of population and infrastructure growth, particularly in the post-independence era.
Listed below are some of the mitigation measures, implemented on the recommendations of the Ramsay Committee that was constituted 4 days after the slide on September 22, 1880 and submitted its report on October 11, 1880.
(i) Construction of storm water drains on all the slopes around the lake,
(ii) Restriction on anthropogenic activities on vulnerable slopes,
(iii) Measures for restricting groundwater infiltration, and
(iv) Regular maintenance and upkeep of the structures created.
Hope the Ramsay Committee report was not restricted to 04 lines?
Would appreciate if detailed account of the report is shared. This would help in better appreciating the sincerity of the efforts put in.
Having spent almost entire life in Nainital I was really not knowing two facts:
1. Where the Englishman dead in 1880 slide were put to rest.
2. That the Naina Devi temple is not at its original site.
Are our disaster management authorities totally unaware of such incidences? If not they should make sincere efforts to rejuvenate the memories of such incidences.
Do the so called disaster managers of present times do not review what has transpired in the past and take lessons from these instances?
Be it Gauna landslide of 1893 or Asher ka Danda landslide of 1880, no lessons have really been learnt. Shouldn’t something be done by those at the helm of affairs to ensure that such instances remain fresh in the memories of both disaster managers and masses.