Guwahati, April 17: The civil engineering department of Assam Engineering College (AEC) has identified 369 spots here vulnerable to landslides, of which 67 per cent require immediate attention to prevent loss of human life and property.

“We have identified the spots through rapid visual screening of the hills. Eight students from our department visited the hills and identified the spots where rains may trigger landslides and cause death and damage. People living on the hills should be very cautious during the rains this year too,” AEC associate professor Diganta Goswami, who supervised the survey, told The Telegraph.

At least 30 people living on the hills have lost their lives to landslides since 2006, with 10 dying last year alone. According to a study, there are more than 65,000 households on 16 hills in and around the city. Most of the houses have been constructed after unscientific cutting of hills that has led to loosening of the soil, causing landslides during heavy rains.

The report was submitted to the Kamrup (metro) district disaster management authority recently.

Of the 19 hills surveyed, 77 vulnerable spots were found on the Soonsali hill, 71 in Noonmati/Narengi hills, 38 in Khanapara/Koinadhora (location of chief minister’s official residence), 37 in Kharguli, 30 in Hengerabari, 25 in Kahilipara and 20 in Shantipur hills. Most of these hills had reported landslides earlier. “During the survey it was found that people are living dangerously in houses built under big overhanging rocks or on loose earth. Ninety-five per cent causes of landslides have been found to be manmade, owing to haphazard cutting of the soil and unscientific construction on the hills,” Goswami said.

Additional deputy commissioner Dhrubajyoti Das has, meanwhile, appealed to all hill dwellers to be extra cautious and said the administration was gearing up for the rainy season. “We have activated our 19 surveillance teams to alert people on time and help prevent loss of lives. The teams and the police station-level committees formed last year have been asked to visit the landslide-vulnerable spots and identify places from where people can be evacuated immediately if the situation so demands,” he said.