J&K houses 15 unstable landslide zones : Geological Survey of India

”Geomorphic hazards most widespread in Ramban, Leh, Udhampur districts”

Geological Survey of India (GSI) has claimed that there are 15 highly unstable landslide zones in Jammu and Kashmir.

This claim finds mention in vital GSI survey which was conducted in two years to create a landslide compendium in North Western States of Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir.
The other two Himalayan states covered by the survey are Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The type of information included in the compendium are Landslide Susceptibility Maps on scale 1:50,000 covering parts of river basins and Susceptibility Maps on scale 1:50,000/25,000/10,000 covering major towns.
In Jammu and Kashmir the only river basin covered under the survey is Chenab river.
The survey report indicates that geomorphic hazards are most widespread in Udhampur, Leh and Ramban districts.
As per the report, the highest five highly vulnerable zones are located in Ramban District, including three along the Jammu- Srinagar highway, while Leh and Poonch Districts have three each zones prone to the landslides.
“Village Tak, village Channgabra, village Rakh Jhrog, Tringula located along Jammu – Srinagar Highway, besides Village Dharam, Gool have been identified as highly unstable landslide zones, all falling in Ramban district” the report states.
Similarly in Reasi district all two susceptible zones have been identified in Katra Tehsil including the section of track to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine near Devidwar, Ardhkwari and the Bhawan located near the shrine.
In Udhampur district village Sadal, village Kheri located on Jammu- Srinagar Highway are vulnerable areas, while in Poonch district village Upper Potha and village Chela and Dangri and in Leh district Karu-Tangtse Road, Shyok-Agham Road, Rema-Rewari Road have been identified as the landslide prone areas.