<p>This study focuses on the dynamics of granular flow similar to landslides and avalanches using a controlled environment. The work experimentally investigates the gravity-driven granular flow to mitigate the threat of landslides using both dry and wet surfaces. For dry conditions, different friction surfaces are used, while for wet conditions, different water levels are employed. Granular flow is studied for different angles of inclination and compared using spread area, run-off distance, and height of the terminated flow. At lower angles, the run-off distance experiences a reduction of approximately 50% for the frictional surface. The study reveals the formation of distinct deposit patterns on the ground table, ranging from a mustache-like structure to a tongue-shaped structure for low to high friction conditions respectively. Additionally, it’s observed that a wider spread area is formed under both low and high friction conditions, but a narrow spread is observed for the medium friction surface. For medium friction, there exists a balance between energy dissipation due to particle –surface collisions and particle momentum loss affecting the spread formation. The granular flow entering the water is divided into a leading wave at the top surface and a turbidity current, which is propagated along the bottom surface of the water. The medium friction surface presents a viable strategy for enhancing resilience against landslide. Additionally, the potential use of water bodies as a control measure shows promising results. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of granular flow behavior and the development of effective control measures in landslide-prone regions.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>