Uttarakhand: Nainital Still Faces Landslide Threat from All Directions, People Shudder Remembering the 1880 Tragedy

Nainital: The 18th of September reminds Nainital of one of the most tragic events in its history, in which 151 people lost their lives due to a landslide. Among the victims were 108 Indians and 43 Eurasian citizens. Seventeen horses standing at the Ghoda Stand were also buried under the debris in this landslide. Even after 144 years, Nainital is once again experiencing landslides, creating a grim situation in various parts of the town.

While the Balianala region has been experiencing heavy landslides for a long time, other areas like Naina Peak, Saat Number, Tiffin Top, Rusi, Nihal Nala, and areas near Kailakhan on the Bhowali road, and Alu Khet, are also prone to periodic landslides. The most significant landslide occurred on August 6th this year in the Tiffin Top area, wiping out the legacy of Dorothy’s Seat.

In recent years, the ground near Lower Mall Road and Band Stand has also collapsed. On September 23, 2023, a significant landslide occurred in the Mallital Charton Lodge area on the same Alma Hill, where the 1880 landslide occurred. A two-story house was destroyed, displacing several families. This year as well, numerous families have been evacuated.

Naina Devi Temple Was Buried in the 18th September Landslide
In the 1880 landslide, the famous Victoria Hotel, Bell’s Shop, Assembly Hall, and the Naina Devi Temple, located near the current Boat House Club, were buried under debris. In 1883, efforts by Amarnath Shah led to the temple being re-established at its current location.

The Catastrophe Struck After Four Days of Heavy Rainfall
This disaster struck on Saturday, the 18th of September, 1880, after four continuous days of heavy rainfall, amounting to nearly 896 mm. This rain loosened the soil on the steep slopes of Alma Hill, resulting in a massive landslide. The British authorities at the time took lessons from this tragedy and constructed 68 drains in Nainital. Later, the debris from this landslide helped form the Flats Ground.

Tributes Are Still Paid to the Victims
The victims of the 1880 disaster are still remembered today. A memorial service is held at the St. John in the Wilderness Church in Mallital, where the names of the Eurasian victims are inscribed on a plaque.

Nainital Has Witnessed Several Devastating Landslides
In 1889, a landslide in the Balianala area destroyed the Veerbhatti-Jolikote road. That same year, another landslide occurred near Kailakhan, adjacent to Balianala. In 1897, a landslide occurred behind Bank House. Major landslides also took place in Balianala near Veerbhatti (Brewery) in 1898 and 1924. The 1898 landslide claimed 28 lives, including one European who worked as an assistant in the brewery. The brewery and distillation buildings were destroyed, and the impact extended towards Kailakhan, with a scope even larger than the Alma Hill landslide of 1880.

The landslide in 1924, known as the Charta Hill Landslide, killed two Indian travelers, including a cleaner and a woman. A restaurant, police post, governor’s garage, motor car station, various shops, and outhouses were completely destroyed. The police line, which was located there, was later moved to its current location under the Collectorate in Nainital due to the risk. In 1997, a landslide near the gate of DSB Campus caused a portion of the hill to collapse.

In June 2021, a landslide near Polytechnic on the Nainital-Kilbury road caused the route to be cut off and closed to heavy vehicles for several days. In July 2021, a landslide near the Pashan Devi Temple endangered the DSB Campus Women’s Hostel. During the same period, a landslide also occurred above New Palika Market. In 2018, a 25-meter section of Lower Mall Road sank into Naini Lake. In 2022, a landslide in the Rusi area forced the relocation of a planned sewer treatment plant.