Post-disaster slope stability evaluation of catastrophic events in Uttarakhand

摘要

The 30,000 km2 area in Uttarakhand has witnessed numerous landslides, subsidence and bank erosion after intense rainfall and cloudburst of 16-17 June 2013. The disaster rendered 845 people missing from the Uttarakhand and about 3000 people from other parts of the country and confirmed death of 159, besides colossal damage to houses, livestock, loss of agricultural and forest land. The Kedarnath Township, that houses the holy temple, was the worst affected area where heavy rains, cloudbursts and Glacial Lake Outburst (GLOF) phenomenon changed the course of Mandakini River. The unprecedented flood left lakhs of people stranded.In the present paper post-disaster evaluation of slope stability issues of the catastrophic event has been attempted in five worst-affected districts viz. Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar. The scale of damage caused by the slope failures due to flash floods attained alarming dimensions due to highly vulnerable slopes, glacio-fluvial terraces, morain dump material, etc. Geo-parametric data of 419 landslide locations in different districts have been collected and immediate, short-term mitigation measures have been suggested, besides identifying critical location for detailed studies. In addition, 112 villages were also studied to suggest various remedial measures for reconstruction and rehabilitation to safer zones in proximal environment.