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The primary aim of this research is to investigate the application of open source geographic information system software, geographical resources analysis support system (GRASS) for landslide hazard assessment.

Five parameters affecting landslide occurrence derived from topographical, geological and land use maps of Cameron highland were used for the assessment.

The results showed that about 93 percent of the study area falls under zone II that is of low hazard, with less than 7 percent on zone III with moderate hazard and only less than 1 percent falls under zone IV, which is of high hazard.

The accuracy of the landslide hazard map needs to be assessed by cross‐correlation with landslide occurrence in the field.

The map produced showed the potential application of GRASS as a tool for producing landslide hazard assessment map.

The major outcome of this research is the possible use of open source GIS software in the application of landslide hazard assessment. The capability of GRASS in performing such environmental assessment will certainly attract many researchers and organizations with limited budgets, especially in developing countries such as Malaysia.

The purpose of this paper is to characterize and investigate relationships between disaster preparedness, impacts, and humanitarian response among Eastern Uganda populations affected by the 2010 landslides and floods.

A stratified cluster survey of the disaster-affected populations was conducted five months after the onset of the disasters. Probability proportional to size sampling was used to sample 800 households, including 400 affected by floods in Butaleja District and 400 affected by landslides in Bududa District.

Mortality was significantly higher in the landslide-affected populations as compared to flood-affected populations (deaths reported: 4.5 vs 1.6 percent, p<0.01) whereas injuries were more common in the flood-affected areas (injuries reported: 3.1 vs 1.1 percent, p<0.01). Livelihoods impacts were widespread and reported in more than 95 percent of households. Respondents indicated that the community and government were unprepared to respond in both flood (90.5 and 77.8 percent, respectively) and landslide (95.3 and 74.9 percent) affected areas.

The majority of households felt that both their communities and the government were unprepared to respond to disasters. Given the likelihood for recurrence of natural disasters in these communities, expansion of both community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) programs and their evidence base should be prioritized.

There is a paucity of evidence on community perceptions of disaster preparedness and on CBDP programs. The paper highlights these issues in the context of two disasters in Uganda and calls for expansion of the evidence based to inform risk reduction strategies in low-income settings.

This paper is joint reflection on the role of research assistants (RAs) in fieldwork for disaster risk research, particularly at the doctoral level. The paper has been co-authored by Gurung, who worked as a RA with the other author McGowran during his doctoral field research in Kalimpong from May 2019 to January 2020. The piece allows Gurung to voice his ideas on the research in a published research output and allows both authors to reflect on how the collaborative approach taken helped to make the research more responsive to, and reflective of, the problems people affected by landslides in Kalimpong face. The paper aims to highlight the benefits of working with RAs on landslide prevention and management in areas that may be unfamiliar and to provide a space for the RAs to voice their opinion on the research.

The paper is split into sections written by and in the voice of the authors. This reflects a compromise between wanting Gurung's voice to be clearly heard in the piece and the challenges of non-academically trained RAs contributing to academic outputs that require specific training. Brief outlines of Kalimpong district disaster research in the region are set out by McGowran initially. Gurung then outlines how he became involved in the research and how this affected the research methodology. He reflects on how the research played out and presents some brief reflections on the findings. McGowran then concludes the piece.

The authors discuss how landslides in Kalimpong are related to locally specific political, economic, cultural and physical processes. It is only through discussing these processes with the people who live with and are affected by these landslides that this more holistic understanding can be gained, even though complete explanations are never usually found. Ideas for further research into landslides in Kalimpong and elsewhere are presented, centering on the involvement of people affected by disasters in this research.

The authors hope the publication of the paper might set more of a precedent for the voice of RAs – and those who are affected by disasters – to be more clearly heard in disaster risk research and practice in future. More of this type of research could help to address some of the issues this special issue raises.

Outlines the threat posed by landslides in Great Britain, and examines the ways in which potential problems can be identified and accommodated by developers and engineers in the light of changes in the Building Regulations for England and Wales which took effect on 1 June 1992. Explores the causes of landsliding, and suggests the appropriate investigations which should be instigated by the developer if suspecting instability. Discusses remedial measures and presents a study of landslide management with the example of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Mentions the Planning Policy Guidance issued by the Department of the Environment, which advises local authorities, landowners and developers on the role of planning controls as a landslide management tool.

The purpose of this paper is to show that satellite data applicability for landslides studies is given concentration in tropical regions, which have two limitations; regular cloud cover and thick vegetation.

Landslide studies have three categories: mapping, zonation, and monitoring. High spatial resolution images are convenient for mapping. Since the slope and slope materials are the dominant parameters for slide potential, a high resolution DEM produced from the above data with classification of multispectral data will be vital for zonation. Weather‐free and penetration are advantages that make radar images essential for monitoring.

A composition of satellite data with support of aerial photography, with its high spatial resolution, will give an excellent spatial database for these studies.

Satellite remote sensing data are applicable for landslides studies in non‐accessible mountainous tropical regions.

The study aims to highlight fundamental causes and effects of disasters in the northern district of Uttarkashi, which lies in the fragile mountains of Himalaya. Disasters such as the 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake, the flash floods of the Bhagirathi river and the devastation caused by the Gyansu landslide are discussed.

The following approach was used for this study: precise geographical location of the various landslides was marked through Global Positioning System Receiver (GPS); landslide types were identified based on activity (active or old) and debris flow slide and rock fall were marked based on the sliding material and slope condition; the land use/land cover pattern of Varunawat Parvat was also assessed; the vulnerability of population, houses and infrastructure etc. was listed; the condition of existing stability measures, e.g. check dams and drains, was assessed; and slide‐specific mitigation measures were suggested.

The Himalayan state of Uttaranchal has been witnessing the fury of nature for a long time. In recent years there has been an increase in the frequency of natural disasters. Earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods have caused great damage to life and property in various parts of the state. The Himalayan orogenic belt is tectonically active and subject to modifications by natural processes. Adding further to the fragility of this belt are the anthropogenic activities like the unplanned cutting of slope for construction activity, blasting of highly jointed rock mass for road construction and unplanned disposal of the slope cut debris material.

The study is based on the data/information collected during the monsoon season from 15 June to 15 September 2003. The period is short for developing any hypothesis but sufficient care has been taken to consider vital factors.

A calamity of rare severity requires a high level of recovery and management. Sound mitigation mechanism helps the Government and the community to tackle the problem immediately and efficiently.

The study highlights fundamental causes and effects of the landslide and suggests steps to overcome them.

The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on prognosis and mitigation of major landslide zones in an attempt to minimize the impact of such disasters in future. A case study on the sequence of sliding events of Varunavat Parvat, Uttarkashi (India), response of masses and administration and causative factors of sliding events has been presented in detail for prognosis and mitigation of large slide zones.

The prognosis and mitigation strategy discussed is based on the monitoring of mass wasting zones through field investigations and satellite image analysis (of pre‐ and post‐landslide period images) and experiential learning and interaction with village elders in landslide hazard‐prone Himalayan terrain.

The paper finds that Himalayan habitations such as Uttarkashi (which is situated in an area of fragile rocks, complex tectonics, seismic activity and cloud burst‐prone unstable hill slopes with colluvium and old slide zones) should have minimum anthropogenic activity in the form of slope cutting for road or building construction.

The paper reflects the author's individual understanding of causative factors and indications of landslides in Varunavat Parvat area in Uttarkashi township of Uttarakhand (India).

The paper calls for amalgamation of experience‐based local knowledge of villagers of landslide‐prone areas and modern scientific and technical know‐how and above all the coordinated efforts of community and authorities for prognosis and mitigation of large‐scale landslides in the inhabited areas. It has been further emphasized that sensitization and awareness programs and strict implementation of land‐use regulations are vital components of effective mitigation strategy.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the landslide of Rishikesh‐Badrinath National Highway in Uttaranchal, India.

The paper discusses causes, mitigation and preventive measures in and around the township of Devprayag.

Apart from the major landslide events (such as Malpa and Okhimath in 1998) most landslides go unnoticed because the losses in most of the events are not great enough to catch the media attention. These are therefore often considered as stray events but the cumulative losses from these events are significant. Geological and tectonic evolution of the Himalayan terrain has resulted in large‐scale metamorphism, thrusting, faulting, folding and deformation of the rocks that have resulted in a terrain that is full of rocks that are highly fractured, jointed and sheared and thus in a fragile state. High relative relief, steep slopes, concentrated rainfall with high rates of surface flow together with the ongoing tectonism make the region highly prone to natural hazards. Earthquake, landslide, flash floods are thus common to this region. A total of 78 people died in various incidences in such minor incidences in the monsoon season of 2004 in the state of Uttaranchal in India. The cumulative losses in the entire Himalayan terrain from such incidences are likely to surpass the count in other disasters. The public policy on landslide hazard management encompasses decision making on the issue: when at what cost of various mix of preventive and ameliorative of palliative measures be applied to mitigate the hazards of mass‐movement. Two aspects, regulatory and legislative, are involved. Since, damages consequent to occurrence of a landslide are involved there should be mandatory regulation governing the procedure of hazard management and for providing guidelines in the matter requiring fixing responsibilities for causing/escalating landslides, providing deterrents to activities detrimental to environmental balance and awarding costs of damage by the law courts.

Measures to minimize landslide activity in the near future are presented.

The paper aims to discuss the causes of the landslide event at Amparav in Kumaun Himalaya (Nainital district of Uttaranchal in India) and attempts to bring forth the importance of mass awareness regarding the past disaster events in their surroundings.

On the aftermath of the landslide tragedy of 23 September, 2004 field investigations were carried out to probe the causes and lapses that resulted in tragedy at a place where a detailed mitigation plan had been implemented.

The investigations reveal that a detailed landslide management strategy was prepared and implemented to protect this zone almost a century ago, with a thorough understanding of the mass wastage processes. Implementation of this plan safeguarded this zone for a long time, but the lack of awareness among the masses led to the violation of the very spirit of this plan. This culminated in the Amparav tragedy that took three human lives, besides the loss of a huge public and private infrastructure.

The old study that led to the landslide management strategy could not be assessed and the article is based on information provided by the village elders.

The paper is an attempt to bring forth the finer details of the landslide management plan enacted in the region almost a century ago. It suggests the need for detailed surveys and planning in enacting any disaster management plan.

This paper would bring forth the importance of documenting the disaster management strategies of the region and sharing the significance of these with the masses so that they are deterred from even unintentionally violating the spirit of these plans.