Fragile slopes: 10 Indian hill stations most prone to monsoon disasters
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Shimla faces frequent landslides, flash floods, and road blockages during the monsoon. Heavy rainfall often damages infrastructure, disrupting tourism, transport, and daily life, making it vulnerable to natural destruction.
Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Manali is prone to cloudbursts, swollen rivers, and landslides in the monsoon. Road connectivity to Rohtang Pass and Leh is often disrupted, putting tourists and locals at risk of being stranded.
Darjeeling, West Bengal
With severe soil erosion, landslides, and flooding during heavy rainfall, Darjeeling becomes unstable. The monsoon threatens tea plantations, transport routes, and local communities’ safety each monsoon season.
Munnar, Kerala
Known for lush greenery, Munnar faces destructive monsoon landslides and flooding. Incessant rains trigger slope collapses, damage roads, and cut off villages, causing massive disruption in this scenic hill town.
Nainital, Uttarakhand
Nainital often suffers from flash floods, cloudbursts, and frequent landslides during monsoons. Its lakes swell beyond capacity, endangering settlements, while hilly slopes collapse under intense rainfall, causing widespread damage.
Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
Mussoorie’s fragile hills face soil erosion, landslides, and house collapses in monsoons. Unchecked construction worsens risks, while cloudbursts lead to flooding, leaving tourists stranded and infrastructure severely damaged.
Coorg (Kodagu), Karnataka
Coorg is prone to heavy monsoon flooding and landslides. Overflowing rivers, damaged coffee plantations, and collapsed houses are common, making this otherwise serene hill station vulnerable to recurring destruction.
Shillong, Meghalaya
Shillong experiences torrential rains, leading to flash floods, landslides, and road damage. The steep terrain and weak slopes worsen risks, making transport and communication severely affected during the monsoon months.
Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Though Rajasthan’s only hill station, Mount Abu, suffers from flooding and landslides during heavy monsoon downpours. Soil erosion, road collapses, and damage to surrounding forests are frequent challenges.
Cherrapunji, Meghalaya
As one of the wettest places, it is adapted to rain, but is still highly vulnerable to cloudbursts and flash floods that devastate low-lying areas.