SHILLONG, April 8: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is set to introduce its landslide early warning system in Meghalaya. This was revealed by Director General of GSI, Asit Saha, at the National Conference on ‘Advances in Geosciences: New Insights and Sustainable Solutions for Safe Living in Mountainous Regions (AG-ISM 2025)’, which was held on Tuesday. The system, already operational in several districts across India, is expected to enhance public safety in the landslide-prone terrain of the Northeast during monsoon months.
Speaking at the workshop, Saha highlighted the importance of geology in understanding and mitigating natural disasters. He stated that Meghalaya, Mizoram, and other Northeastern states are currently under study for landslide susceptibility, and alerts will soon be issued to residents during high-risk periods, particularly the monsoon.
While weather forecasts and alerts related to thunderstorms and torrential rains fall under the purview of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the GSI relies on this data to issue timely landslide warnings. Saha also pointed to the Sachet app — a tool that delivers real-time alerts through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) — as a critical source of early warning information for the general public.
“Landslides are largely triggered by heavy rainfall,” he said, “and any indiscriminate construction activity on unstable slopes further worsens the situation. There are areas where no construction should ever take place.”
He also mentioned the need for afforestation and strict adherence to building guidelines in hilly regions. Citing examples from both the northeastern and northwestern Himalayas, including Himachal Pradesh, he said many fatal landslides in recent years occurred because of construction carried out in violation of safety protocols.
“Development cannot be stopped, but it has to be regulated. Our landslide reports always include mitigation measures to ensure safety,” he said.
Addressing the topic of earthquakes, he noted that while these natural events cannot be prevented, buildings in earthquake-prone zones must follow construction norms to minimize fatalities. He referenced a recent devastating earthquake in Myanmar that shook even Bangkok, where an under-construction building collapsed due to non-compliance with safety measures.
In Meghalaya, GSI has discovered significant fossil records, which it considers geological treasures. “These fossils help us understand the earth’s history and evolution.
Preserving them is essential for science and education,” he said.
