Abstract ID: 3.12544 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

The susceptibility of mountain physiography towards natural hazard is due to numerous factors, primarily being the complex topography, climatic variability, and geological instability. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is enriched with ecological and diverse resources, supporting the sustenance of nearly 50 million local communities. Existing research highlights that the Western and Central Himalayan Mountain faces heightened risks due to accelerated anthropogenic pressures including rapid urbanization, deforestation, and unplanned development. Historical records on seismicity shows that frequent earthquakes have occurred in the Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as the region falls under seismic zones 4 or 5, which means the risk of earthquakes always remains high. Systematic review observed that many Himalayan states are facing the threat of land subsidence, because of induced seismicity resulting into frequent earthquakes in the Himalayas. The study is primarily focused on the issue of land subsidence due to weak geology of Himalayas, as the hazard affect human well-being and ecosystem resilience at heightened degree. Land subsidence can lead to socio-economic destruction including infrastructural damage, social displacement and frequent flooding. The study is also focussed on enlisting various method of assessing land deformation other than ground observation primarily based on remote sensing such as GPS surveys, MT-InSAR (Multi-Temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry) and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), to suggest region specific methodologies in response to natural hazards. These advancements facilitate the accurate measurement of ground points in research and detect asynchrony in them. The significant case studies of land subsidence in Western and Central Himalayas of India include sinking of different parts of Chenab valley in Jammu & Kashmir, Lindur village in Himachal Pradesh and Joshimath in Uttarakhand. The study highlights the need of preventive mitigation measures, including as controlled resource extraction, sustainable land-use planning, and comprehensive GIS monitoring, considering the sensitive tectonic activity in the region. The research offers vital insights to formulate resilience-focused actions and securing the long-term environmental and socio-economic sustainability for policymakers and disaster management authorities.