LANDSLIDE HAZARD ZONATION MAP FOR CHAMOLI JOSHIMATH NH ROUTE USING GEOMATICS TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Landslides are among the major natural disasters in the world. It is a common phenomenon especially in a tectonically fragile and sensitive mountainous terrain like the Himalayas. The landslides causes loss of life and property, damage to natural resources (e.g. vegetation, land , soil etc) and hampers developmental projects like roads, dams, communication lines, bridges etc. Landslides are the most important processes of a catastrophic type that leads to modification of the surface morphology. It refers to a variety of processes by which large masses of earth materials are moved under gravity, either slowly or quickly from one place to another. The high susceptibility to landslides of the Himalayas is mainly due to complex geological setting with the contemporary crustal adjustments, varying slopes and relief, heavy snow and rainfall along with ever-increasing human interference. Although gravity acting on an over steepened slope is the primary reason for a landslide. The unplanned construction of roads and buildings may be due to financial, time and other constraints have increased the landslide susceptibility. Mitigation of the landslide disasters can be successful only when detailed knowledge is obtained about the expected frequency, character and magnitude of mass movement in an area. To take a quick and safer mitigation measure and strategic planning, identification of landslide prone areas and Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) is important.