Zeitschrift für Geologie und Geophysik
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A Geological Appraisal of Slope Instability in Upper Alaknanda Valley, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

Sajwan KS and Sushil K

Landslide is frequently occurring natural phenomenon causing land degradation in mountainous region of the world. The fragile Himalayan terrain of Uttarakhand often faces challenging and tough situation due to landslides, particularly in monsoon season. Change in rainfall pattern, anthropogenic activity, deforestation, construction on old landslide debris and Quaternary deposits and displacement of habitation from hill side to valley side are some significant increasing factors for the landslide susceptibility. Anthropogenic activities include very fast, unscientific and uncontrolled urbanization and these are considerably responsible to carved out the disaster viz., landslide, cloudburst and flash flood. Habitation and infrastructure development initiatives in close proximity of streams and rivers as also over Quaternary deposits and unplanned disposal of excavated rock and debris are observed to aggravate the fury of both, landslides and flash floods in the region. Mostly in monsoon season frequent disruption of road network by landslides cause hardship to tourists and pilgrims along with local people. During monsoon season torrential rainfall and cloudburst events are common which acts as basic factor for triggering the landslides in the area. It is therefore necessary to analyse the causes of landslides so as to suggest viable mitigation measures. The paper outlines slope instability and factors responsible for the landslide susceptibility in upper Alaknanda valley, Uttarakhand, India.