STABILITY ANALYSIS OF HIMALAYAN SLOPES

Abstract

There is a large number of destabilized slopes in the Himalayan region mainly due to geological environment which is complex and having active tectonics present in the area. There is also deformation and metamorphism in the varied lithology of area which results in a rugged topography. The instability in the slopes is also being accelerated by the activities resulting from various ongoing construction and tunneling processes for the development in the region. There has been huge economic losses and a serious number of mishaps, which is endangering the Himalayan ecosystem due to various landslide related problems. The Himalayan region experiences frequent landslides along the national highways and mountain roads particularly the sections where there is debris slope. Factor of safety for each of the slopes under construction has been determined using numerical analysis first and then GEOSTUDIO correspondingly. In order to increase the stability of slope in the most efficient stabilization and ground improvement techniques have been proposed. It is very important that in the various vulnerable sections of the Himalayas slope stability assessment should be carried out. The site under consideration is Razdan Pass which is a high mountain pass at 3557m above the sea level. It is located in the Gurez valley of Jammu and Kashmir which is the highest point which connects Bandipora with Gurez. The road over the pass is winding and is called Bandipora-Gurez Highway. With NHPC Kishanganga Hydro Power Project Bandipore Jammu & Kashmir being in the vicinity and a new tunnel Razdan Pass Tunnel in the construction phase it becomes very important that stability of this slope is being assessed, for in many places over hundreds of meters the road is unprotected by the guardrails.

Numerous tunnels have been constructed between 2007 and 2018 and also 37m tall concrete- face rock fill dam has been constructed during the construction of Kishanganga Hydro Power

Project which adds to the already unstable slope which is snow covered for almost 6 months a year. Stability analysis of slopes using numerical analysis GEOSTUDIO is aimed at knowing about the factors that can potentially trigger a slope movement, understanding why a slope failure has occurred and, as well as the prevention of starting of such movement, at least slow it down or arrest it completely through mitigation countermeasures.