From Disaster To Conservation: Geoheritage Potential of the 2024 Wayanad Landslide, India

Krishnapriya, V. K.; Amrutha, A. S.; Rajaneesh, A.; Pradeep, G. S.; Sankar, G.; Nandakumar, D.; Muraleedharan, C.; Kanungo, D. P.; Yunus, Ali P.; Martha, Tapas R.; Gopinath, Girish; Oommen, Thomas; Nedumpallile Vasu, Nikhil; Sajinkumar, K. S.

From Disaster To Conservation: Geoheritage Potential of the 2024 Wayanad Landslide, India

Krishnapriya, V. K.; Amrutha, A. S.; Rajaneesh, A.; Pradeep, G. S.; Sankar, G.; Nandakumar, D.; Muraleedharan, C.; Kanungo, D. P.; Yunus, Ali P.; Martha, Tapas R.; Gopinath, Girish; Oommen, Thomas; Nedumpallile Vasu, Nikhil; Sajinkumar, K. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6461-8112. 2025 From Disaster To Conservation: Geoheritage Potential of the 2024 Wayanad Landslide, India. Geoheritage. 10.1007/s12371-025-01181-7

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-025-01181-7

Abstract/Summary

The 2024 Wayanad landslide in the Western Ghats of India, which occurred on 30 July, is one of the most significant and devastating landslides in India, and stands as a compelling candidate for designation as a geoheritage site. This landslide, initiated as a rockslide and transformed into a massive debris flow, travelled 8 km causing widespread destruction across three villages, altering the course of the Punnapuzha River, and resulting in over 266 fatalities. This tragic event underscores the urgent need for management of natural hazards, particularly rain-induced landslides in the Western Ghats region. Thus, the Wayanad landslide site offers a unique opportunity to establish a field segment for guided exploration and a museum segment for research and education on landslide dynamics and geological processes, benefiting students, researchers, and disaster management professionals. Hence, this study evaluates the geoheritage potential of the site through a combined approach of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) analysis, and a comprehensive stakeholder-informed survey. Results from the survey revealed especially high educational and tourism potential, despite major social, environmental, and economic disruptions. Recommendations include establishing real-time monitoring systems, controlled public access, and a digital platform to engage broader audiences. By recognizing the geoheritage significance, it could serve as a platform for scientific investigation, public awareness, and disaster risk reduction strategies. Furthermore, such a designation would foster geotourism, supporting sustainable development and benefitting the local community. Thus, this study aims to highlight the scientific value of the 2024 Wayanad landslide site and its potential to educate future generations while promoting both conservation and geotourism, aligning with UNESCO’s initiatives to preserve dynamic geomorphosites that reveal Earth’s active geological history.

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s12371-025-01181-7

ISSN:

1867-2477

Date made live:

05 Nov 2025 13:50 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/540506