Introduction

The collapse of a seven-storey building somewhere in the fragile mountains was a shocking moment not only for the residents alone but also for the state and the environmentalists. Although a timely eviction of the residents before the building collapse averted the likely irreparable loss of precious human lives, livestock, and property. The problem, and the risk of such adversities to reoccur in future, remains unresolved. The experiences of the past couple of decades reveal such incidents are commonplace happenings now a days in the mountain regions, particularly during the monsoons.