IIT Mandi and DDMA Sign MoU to Deploy Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in Himachal Pradesh, Know More Here

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi signed an MoU with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on February 8, 2022, with the purpose of working towards the development of Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning Systems at certain sites in Himachal Pradesh. 

Earlier, IIT Mandi and DDMA Kangra signed an MoU under which 10 Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning Systems (EWS) will be developed and deployed based upon the site visits and analysis of those sites as per the InSAR based analysis and in confirmation with the District Administration. 

The MoU was signed by Professor Laxidhar Behera, Director at IIT Mandi and Arindam Chaudhary, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi. 

“IIT Mandi is delighted to partner with the State Government to address the issue of landslides through this innovation of landslide monitoring systems installed in critical sites”, Professor Behera has stated about the partnership.

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Referring to the data analytics the institute has, Professor Behera, further stressed on the importance of using the available technology for the utmost benefit of the state. Referring to the frequent landslides and road-related fatal problems in the state, Arindam Chaudhary also has commented on the utility of this MoU.

“Saving human lives is a matter of utmost concern, and this alert system will allow the administration to evacuate people more efficiently”, as stated by Chaudhary in his statement. 

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The Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System device has been developed earlier by Dr. Varun Dutt, Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Electrical Engineering and Dr. K. V. Uday, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi. 

During the signing of the MoU, Rajiv Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, Mandi, stressed the need for a full-proof evacuation system. He also suggested an increase in the warning ranges for this system- from 1.5 to 2 hours. This is for the purpose of giving the chance to evacuate timely and peacefully. 

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IIT Mandi Landslide Monitoring and EWS: How Does It Work

Landslides are generally predicted 10 minutes prior to they actually happen by monitoring the changes in soil movement.

Upon receiving information from the Landslide Monitoring System, IIT Mandi provides soil movement alerts via hooters and blinkers mounted on roads and dispatched remotely through text messages. The system also sends rainfall alerts in case there is a possibility of more than 5 mm of rain forecast. 

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi requested a solution to protect these warning systems from robbery during a discussion on possible collaborations with the institute. He also asked to develop low-cost processing units for cereals for easy procurement. 

Moreover, the IIT Mandi Director has suggested sharing a low-budget improvised ropeway in small villages in Himachal Pradesh for smoother transportation. 

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