1880 Nainital landslide
1880 Nainital Landslide (Landslip of 1880)
On 18 September 1880, at the northern end of Nainital, India, a massive landslide killed about 151 people. It happened during the British era and came after earlier slides in the area: in 1866 and a larger one in 1879 on Alma Hill. The 1880 slide was the worst.
From 16 to 18 September, heavy rains fell, totaling about 33 inches. The soaking rain made the ground very unstable. In the afternoon of 18 September, part of Cheena Hill and nearby slopes collapsed, triggering a large landslide.
Between 1881 and 1895, reconstruction took place. Authorities consulted geotechnical experts to improve drainage and prevent future slides. A drainage network about 79 kilometers long was built along the hill slopes to carry away rainwater and stabilize the area.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:50 (CET).