The Nainital Landslide of 1880, also known as the Landslip of 1880, occurred on September 18 at the northern end of Nainital, resulting in the deaths of 151 people.^[1][2] This disaster took place during the British period and was preceded by earlier landslides in the same area. The first recorded landslide happened in 1866, followed by a larger one in 1879 at Alma Hill.^[3] However, the most devastating landslide occurred in 1880, causing significant destruction and loss of life.^[4]

Between September 16 and 18, 1880, Nainital experienced continuous heavy rainfall, accumulating approximately 33 inches.^[5] The prolonged precipitation led to extensive ground saturation, which increased the instability of the hillside formations. On the afternoon of September 18, 1880, a portion of the steep slopes of Cheena Hill and the surrounding areas collapsed, which resulted in a large-scale landslide. This event caused severe destruction and buried parts of the town under debris.

Between 1881 and 1895, reconstruction efforts took place in Nainital, during which authorities sought advice from geotechnical experts to enhance drainage systems to prevent further landslides.^[6] The British colonial administration established a drainage network spanning 79 kilometers along the hill slopes to manage rainfall runoff and improve the region's stability.^[7]

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  Nainital after the landslide in 1880
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  View of Nainital from the part that caused the 1880 landslide, 1885