The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
The Himalayas are a series of parallel mountain ranges extending in an arc shape for about 2,400 km. Their physical dimensions, particularly width and altitude, exhibit significant longitudinal variation due to the geological dynamics of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Statement 1 is Correct:
The width of the Himalayan range is not uniform. It varies from approximately 400 km in the west (Kashmir) to about 150 km in the east (Arunachal Pradesh). The stated range of 160-400 km is an acceptable approximation of this geographical fact.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
The Himalayas are wider in the west than in the east. The compressive forces generated by the collision of the tectonic plates were greater in the eastern sector. Consequently, the mountain ranges in the east were compressed into a narrower zone, while they remain more spread out in the western sector.
Key Takeaway:
The Himalayas are broadest in the Kashmir region (West) and narrowest in the Arunachal Pradesh region (East) due to differential compressive forces along the mountain arc.