1. Alluviation of the Foredeep

According to Edward Suess, an eminent Austrian geologist, a ‘foredeep’ was formed in front of the high crust-waves of the Himalayas as they were checked in their southward advance by the more rigid landmass of the Peninsula of India. This foredeep was like a large synclinorium (a large syncline with a number of small anticlines and synclines) owing to the unevenness of its bottom. According to Suess, the bed of this foredeep had a gentle slope towards north whereas the Peninsular side depicted a steep gradient. This bed rests on the basement of hard crystalline Peninsular rocks through which the region is connected to the Himalayan and the Peninsular blocks (Fig. 2.18). The alluviation of this foredeep led to the formation of the Great Plains by the rivers, descending from the Himalayan region. Cine of the serious gaps in Suess’ theory is related to his inability to give suitable explanation to the uneven slope of the bed of the plain.

Moreover, no conclusive evidence is available through which it could be inferred that there exists crustal connection between the Himalayan region and the Peninsular block through the Great Plains.