Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.

Sure, let's break down the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and the Western Ghats.

1. Himalayan Region:

   • Tectonic Activity: The Himalayas are located in a highly seismic zone, meaning they experience a lot of earthquakes. These earthquakes can trigger landslides, especially in areas where the slopes are steep and unstable.
   • Deforestation: The cutting down of trees for infrastructure development or other purposes can destabilize the soil, leading to landslides.
   • Rainfall: The Himalayan region receives heavy rainfall, especially during the monsoon season. This can saturate the soil, making it heavy and prone to sliding down.
   • Melting Glaciers: Due to global warming, glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a faster rate. This increases the volume of water in rivers and lakes, which can lead to landslides.

2. Western Ghats:

   • Rainfall: The Western Ghats also receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. The intense rainfall can lead to landslides, especially in areas where the vegetation cover is less.
   • Human Activities: Activities like mining, quarrying, and construction can destabilize the slopes and lead to landslides.
   • Deforestation: Similar to the Himalayas, deforestation can lead to landslides in the Western Ghats as well.
   • Slope Modification: The Western Ghats have many steep slopes. Any modification to these slopes for construction or agricultural activities can trigger landslides.

So, while both regions share some common causes like heavy rainfall and deforestation, the Himalayan region is more prone to landslides due to tectonic activity and melting glaciers, whereas in the Western Ghats, human activities like mining and slope modification play a significant role.