TAMING THE FURY OF WHITE DRAGON (SNOW & AVALANCHE) IN LOWER BELT OF NORTH WEST HIMALAYAS

摘要

Avalanches are one of the major natural calamities which takes its toll in terms of human lives, properties, engineering works, i. e., communication line, highway, etc, every year in snow bound areas of Himalayan ranges especially in western states of J&K, HP and Uttaranchal. This is a majorthreat when life gets paralysed due to extreme cold and snow conditions. Such furies of white dragon are controlled by way of installation of avalanche control structures on mountain slope, avalanche forecasting and controlled release of avalanches. The former method has been implemented at few places in Indian Himalayas. Based on the past study and efficacy of control structures, some of the control measures and new techniques are proposed to be implemented on avalanche sites on approach road to proposed Rohtang tunnel. Approximate 09 km long tunnel has been proposed across Pir Panjal ranges about 25.0 km from Manali on the new alignment of Manali- Leh National Highway-21. The construction of tunnel and proposed approach road has got national importance from strategic and developmental activities and join directly a 'cold desert in NW Himalayas', i.e., Lahaul Spiti to the rest of the country.