Soil piping (tunnel erosion) is the formation of underground tunnels due to subsurface soil erosion. When the tunnel grows bigger and bigger the roof collapses and subsidence occur. In the Western Ghats, it usually occurs in the lateritic terrains. Land subsidence due to soil piping was first reported in Thirumeni village, Kannur district, where a large ground subsidence occurred in 2005. Realising the seriousness of the problem the National Disaster Management Authority funded a research project which was collaboratively conducted by National Centre for Earth Science Studies and KSEOC. Based on the recommendations of the research project, the State Executive Committee notified Soil piping as a State Specific Disaster.

KSDMA, jointly with National Centre for Earth Science Studies organised a National Workshop and Field Training on Soil Piping. The workshop was held on 5-7-2017 and the field training was conducted to Cherupuzha, Kannur District from 6th to 9th July 2017. The workshop brochure may be found here.