India to Host Seventh World Landslide Forum at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

India will host the World Landslide Forum for the first time, with its seventh edition (WLF7) scheduled to take place from November 22 to 27 at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in the Delhi NCR region.

The six-day event is designed to bring together more than 1,000 scientists, policymakers, government representatives, and international experts. The primary focus of the gathering is to advance global collaboration in landslide science and disaster-risk reduction.

Speaking on the upcoming event, Dr Maneesha V Ramesh, Pro Vice Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, stated that every advancement in landslide science must ultimately help protect lives, homes, and livelihoods. She noted that hosting WLF7 in India for the first time provides an opportunity to translate science and technology into timely warnings, effective action, and lasting resilience.

The World Landslide Forum has been held every three years since 2008 under the aegis of the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL). WLF7 is being organised in collaboration with organizations such as the Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The event has already drawn over 700 abstracts and papers from 1,900 authors across 75 countries and regions, representing 760 institutions.

Senior government leaders, including Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, are expected to attend the forum.

The central theme of WLF7 is “Landslide Science and Practice for Safe and Resilient Communities.” The agenda spans six key areas, including risk reduction and early warning systems supported by regional case studies. Additionally, the forum will recognize World Centres of Excellence for the 2026-2029 period.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham brings two decades of research experience to the forum, having worked since 2006 on combining internet of things (IoT) technology, deep-earth sensing, artificial intelligence, and community risk communication. The institution previously deployed the world’s first wireless sensor network for landslide detection in Munnar, Kerala, and later in Sikkim following a request from the Central Government.

"Hosting the World Landslide Forum in India highlights the critical convergence of advanced technology, scientific research, and national policy in disaster management. With institutions like Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham applying IoT, AI, and deep-earth sensing to real-world safety challenges, there is a clear roadmap for translating academic research into scalable infrastructure and public safety solutions. Such international collaborations open up avenues for deeper institutional involvement, technology development, and risk mitigation enterprises across vulnerable regions." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes