Scientists revealed that storms and earthquakes in Himalaya increase the risk in Ganga Plain because of the hard rocks deposited into the rivers that may harm millions of people from deadly floods. 

The findings could help the researcher in stopping the flood risk maps for the Ganga Plain - a low-lying region that includes parts of Nepal, Pakistan, and India. The researchers may also gather new insights for the long-term impact of the storms and earthquakes. The study was published in the journal Nature.

Like Us on Facebook

The researchers at the University of Edinburgh analyzed the direction of the rocks being washed from the Himalayan Mountains down to the Plain. They were able to identify the lower elevation ranges of Himalaya, and large landslides in the southern are prone to flood compared to the high mountains on the north.

The rocks from the south are extremely hard and move a short distance (less than 20 km) before reaching the plain, while the rocks from the north tend to be softer and frequently travels 100 km to reach the plain. By understanding which landslide will produce large quantities of sand or gravel, the researchers could predict how the rivers in the Ganga Plain will be affected.

According to Elizabeth Dingle, the author of the study and a Ph.D. student at the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, the findings could help them in resolving the events in Himalaya that produce drastic effects on rivers downstream and to the people who live there. Additionally, knowing where landslide would take place in the mountains may help them in predicting if there will be large gravel deposits that may reach the Ganga Plain to increase the risk of flood.