LANDSLItES IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA: DIMENSIONAL AND GEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Abstract

This paper provides the reader information on the geological aspects of landslide occurring from Chamoli to Langsi in Garwhal Himalaya mainly along NH 58 and also an attempt to correlate various dimensional parameters of the landslides using GIS, based on similar study done by Franco et al. in Southern Italy. The impact due to natural disasters has largely increased recently due to the growth in population and expansion of civilization in hazardous terrain. The increase in impact due to geohazards on society has fuelled initiative to their study. Thus present day facility of GIS has been coupled with classical fleld survey here. This study shows relations between area (A), maximum length along slope(L) and maximum width along contour(W) for source area of landslides. The results indicate a similarity with results obtained by Falco et al. 2011. A detailed description of some of the individual landslides along the Chamoli-Pipalkoti-Josimath Highway is provided along with photographs and diagrams. The road is disturbed by landslides of varied mechanisms. They occur in the vicinity of shear zones transecting the area within dolostones, schists, amphibolites and mylonites. The contents include details which can guide further understanding and investigation of landslides in the area.