Abstract
Transport, communication and socio-economic activities in the hilly areas are completely dependent on the road network. The road network connecting Bafliaz to Shopian town (known as Mughal Road) plays a vital role in the transportation and other activities of the region. It connects the Kashmir Valley with Jammu city and is strategically very important to the country. Almost the entire road length of Mughal Road is vulnerable to landslide incidences and the events of occurrence/recurrence of landslides indicate that the probability of landslide/slope failure is higher along the road cut slopes during the event of antecedent and heavy rainfall and snowfall events. In order to assess the stability of hill slopes, it becomes of utmost importance to understand the failure mechanism along these slopes. In this regard, the slope stability assessment has been carried out by using multiple integrated approaches like the Markland test of kinematic analysis, Geological Strength Index (GSI), Rock mass classification (RMR), and Slope Mass Rating (SMR) at different locations. The type of failure and direction of potential failures for individual slopes have been identified. The obtained results of RMR vary from 23 to 38 after adjustment rating (poor rock mass), SMR from 0 to 54 (very bad to fair rock mass), CSMR from 0 to 53 (very bad to fair rock mass) and the GSI values range from 35 to 45 (poor to fair rock mass). Markland’s test of Kinematic check reveals that planar and wedge failures are the most common phenomenon along the Mughal Road sector.
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Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to Director General, Geological Survey of India (GSI) for proving administrative and financial support. The authors thankfully acknowledge Dy. DG & HOD, GSI, NR, and also the Region Mission Head-IV, GSI, NR, Lucknow and Dr. Ashutosh Mandal, Dy DG, GSI, Jammu for kindly permitting to submit the paper and also for their support and guidance. This research was carried out under annual field season program of GSI. We are thankful to Director, Engineering Geology GSI, Jammu for allowing us to carry out this assignment.
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Imran Khan is currently serving on a foreign deputation from the Government of India as a resident geologist and Head of the geology division at the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan. He has more than a decade of experience working in the domains of engineering geology and landslides. He holds the position of senior geologist at the Geological Survey of India, his parent organization. He has completed his bachelor’s degree in geology (Hons.) from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, and his master’s degree from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Parveen Kumar is a Superintending Geologist and has over 10 years of experience in the Geological Survey of India, where he has worked on a variety of projects related to geological mapping, landslide studies, and engineering geology. He is committed to using his skills to help mitigate natural hazards and improve the safety of projects, communities, etc.
Harish Bahuguna has over 26 years of experience in Hydroproject Development (Tehri dam, Sardar Sarovar dam and Saptkoshi MPP) and Disaster management studies. Recipient of the prestigious National Geoscience Award 2022 in the Field of Applied Geology conferred by the Honorable President of India.
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Khan, I., Bahuguna, H. & Kumar, P. A Qualitative Slope Stability Assessment of Hill Slopes Using Multiple Integrated Approaches Along Bafliaz–Poshiana (Mughal) Road, Jammu and Kashmir. J Geol Soc India 99, 1511–1520 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2503-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2503-x