New Delhi : Do you know that the Himalayan mountain, which strongly protects India’s borders, is one of the weakest mountains in the world. The rocks of this mountain, covering the world’s highest peak Mount Everest, are quite weak and brittle in many places.
Despite this, one of the newest mountains of the world, there is a very dense population around the Himalayas. The reason for this is the rivers originating from the Himalayan mountain ranges. These rivers provide water to about one-fifth of the world’s population. But the Himalayas and the land around it have a lot of movement inside them, which is visible from time to time on the surface of the land. This movement can be dangerous for the people living in the Himalayas and its surroundings. The reasons for this danger are actually hidden in the structure of the Himalayas. Let us know what kind of danger is contained within the Himalayas.
How did the Himalayas Form?
There are plates in many layers under our earth which are moving. Many times this plate rises from the middle and collides with each other, the effect and changes of which are seen on the earth. The Himalayas have been formed by colliding two similar plates (Indian and Eurasian plates) under the earth and sinking into each other. When these plates collide, fault lines are formed. There are three types of fault lines : Strike Thrust (horizontal moving of the plates), the normal fault line in which the plates move away from each other and form a valley in the middle and the third is the reverse fault line forming the Himalayas.
Himalayan Fault Line
There are many fault lines in the Himalayas. The mountains or rocks on the surface of each fault line are different from each other. These fault lines separate each other from the Gangetic plains to the Tibetan plateau. Prominent among these fault lines are Himalayan Central Thrust, Lesser Himalayan, Main Central Thrust, Tethayan Himalayan Thrust, Trans Himalaya Fault Line, Higher Himalaya Fault Line. All the fault lines of the Himalayas, i.e. the fault line rocks, have different nature. Their rocks have cracks. They are also very weak due to their young age. The highest peak of the Himalayan range is the outcrop of the sea. The portion of the main central thrust is made of hard rocks, while the central Himalayan part is the most sensitive to earthquakes. There is a need to be very careful while constructing roads and dams on it.
Two Parts of the Himalayas Are the Weakest
The two Himalayan fault lines are the most sensitive. First – the central thrust that separates the Shivalik range and the Gangetic plains and the second is the higher Himalayan line i.e. the highest part of the Himalayas. The rocks of fault line with central thrust are made of clay and sand. These have the greatest effect on any movement occurring under the ground. Geologists have considered this area as one of the most vulnerable to earthquakes. Talking about the higher Himalayas, this part is made of two plates sunk into each other. This part has also suffered the most pressure. Most of the energy is under this part of the ground and most earthquakes are coming around this area.
The Speciality of the Himalaya is Also Its Trouble
We have been studying since childhood that the Himalayas protect us from the cold winds coming from Siberia and China. In this way it makes India’s climate tropical. At the same time, it forces the clouds to shower across the country by stopping the evaporated winds from the Indian Ocean. This characteristic of the Himalayas often overshadows him. At this time the monsoon has come across the country and during this season, the weakness of this mountain is often seen on its surface. Due to cloudburst or strong rains, there are reports of landsliding in many places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand. Many times, the sharp flow of its rivers also damages the mountains.
Himalaya is different from the rest of the mountain ranges
The major mountain ranges in India are the Himalaya, Aravalli, Vindhya mountain ranges, besides the Eastern and Western Ghats. Among these, the Eastern and Western Ghats are made from volcanic lava. At the same time, the Himalaya, Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges are formed by colliding plates. Among them, the age of Vindhya and Aravali range is estimated to be around 3 billion years. While the age of the Himalayas is only 5-6 crore years. The Himalaya was formed by colliding tectonic plates beneath India and Asia. Even today, these plates are pushing against the other. That means, the Himalaya is still developing today. Right now the Himalaya is very young. Compared to other mountains of the world, there is more movement under it and it is constantly evolving. Dr. Naveen Juyal, a retired senior scientist from Geologist and Physical Research Lab, Ahmedabad, says that the Indian plate is still moving below the Eurasian plate in the bottom of the Himalayas. Its speed is about 20 millimeters per year.
This is Why Caution is Necessary at Every Step
Dr. Naveen Juyal further states that Himalaya is the newest mountain and is also the most fragile. There is a need to be most sensitive about this area. Tampering in this area can prove to be very dangerous. There is a need to be very careful about making dams and roads here. This mountain has very steep slopes, so the flow of rivers is also very fast. It is so fast that it cannot be stopped or fastened. Many times the flow of water is so fast that it becomes harmful to the mountains by changing its stream even without tying. Dr. Juyal says that even in the landslides occurring here, a pattern is seen that most of the accidents of falling or breaking of mountains occur along the roads. Here the vertical curve of the road also invites the Landslide. The policy makers of the Himalaya should keep these things in mind.
