SEMINAR REPORT ON

VARUNAVAT PARVAT LANDSLIDE

GUIDEMiss BHARTI SAINI

SUBMITTED BYANUJ DHYANI SEC-A ROLL NO. 25 VII SEM CIVIL ENGINEERING

I. CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Mr. Anuj Dhyani of B.Tech VII sem, Civil engineering has successfully completed his term work in seminar report presentation for the session 2011-12 , under the guidance of Miss Bharti Saini . The report submitted by her is in accordance with the technical requirements and fulfills all the necessary criteria.

(Seminar co-ordinator)

(Head of Department)

II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am taking up this opportunity to acknowledge the support of all those people who played a vital part in the completion of this report. My first sincere regards are for the Chairman Sir of our University, Mr. Kamal Ghansala and my respected HOD Sir, Mr. K.K Gupta for providing me a platform to perform. I sincerely appreciate the help which I got from my seminar co-ordinator, Miss Bharti Saini, who helped me right through the beginning .I would also like to thank my friends for supporting me through various phases and keeping me in high spirits against all odds.

ANUJ DHYANI

III. ABSTRACT

A landslide is a complex dynamic system. An individual landslide characteristically involves many different processes operating together, often with differing intensity during successive years. A landslide that struck the hill of the Varunavat on 23 September 2003 and endangered the Uttarkashi township is a living example. At the foot of the parvat lies the Uttarkashi township. Uttarkashi township, located on the right bank of the Bhagirathi river, is known to have had a history of natural disasters, including the mass movement activities. A disastrous landslide in the area on the slopes of theVarunavat Parvat struck late in the night on 23 September 2003, immediately after the rainy season. Both natural and human-induced factors are responsible for this slide, however, the main triggering factor is the surface and groundwater. The main treatment works of the Varunavat Parvat landslide area have been completed in 2008 and it is worth highlighting that there is no sliding from the treated parts for the last three years, despite unusually high rain fall (maximum in the last three decades) in Uttarakhand in the year 2010. The contribution of GSI in the for warning of Varunavat Parvat landslide has been duly reflected in the Press Release of Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India dated 12.01.2005 (copy enclosed) which itself is the testimony to the importance of the role which GSI, Uttarakhand Unit, Dehradun has played in the treatment of Varunavat Parvat Landslide.

IV.TABLE OF CONTENTS I. CERTIFICATE..2 II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT3 III. ABSTRACT4

TOPIC
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

PAGE NO.

INTRODUCTION7

Geology and Tectonics10 Causes of Landslide.....11 Immediate initiatives undertaken...13 Geotechnical Investigations....15 Treatments and Stabilisation Measures.16 Current Status of Landslide ..18 Conclusion ......19
REFERENCES.20

IV.TABLE OF FIGURES

TOPIC

PAGE NO.

1.a-View of Varunavat Parvat before Landslide...7 1.b-View of Varunavat Parvat after Landslide and Development of three Chutes..8 2-a Geological map of the area.10 3-a Line diagram of daily rainfall plot for JulySeptember 200311 3-b Average annual rainfall totals for the years 19902003....11 4-a View of Ramlila Groung catchpit13 4-b Removal of muck at Ramlila ground14 6-a Stabilisation in rock by means of Rock bolting, Chain link Shotcreting and Cable Anchoring ineased slope.16 6-b Support by means of Concrete wall and Wire crate wall in the Crown..17 6-c Slope Stabilisation in Overburden Material by means of Geo jute. ..17

1.

Introduction

Uttarkashi town (Long.78 26E, Lat.3044N) is located at the toe of the hill slopes of the Varunavat Parvat , on the right bank of Bhagirathi river, at an elevation of 1150m. It is located at a distance of 155km from Rishikesh on Rishikesh Gangotri National Highway (NH108). River Bhagirathi is passing through the centre of the town almost half of which is located at the base of Varunavat Parvat.

1.a-View of Varunavat Parvat before Landslide A massive landslide on Varunavat Parvat started on 24 Sept. 2003 subsequent to the incessant rains in the area. The landslide activity progressed eastward from Ram Lila ground to Masjid Mohalla. The slide activity buried a number of civil structures like houses, govt. offices, hotels, etc. which were located by the side of NH108 at the toe of the hill. Almost 3000 people were affected by the Varunavat slides and property worth Rs 50 crores was damaged. However, it is worth mentioning that no loss of human life occurred during this disastrous slide activity because of timely proactive action taken by the district administration on the basis of early warning given by GSI. The National Highway (NH108) was completely blocked by debris flow.

2. ConclusionThere have been a variety of natural hazards, including occasional mass movements of destructive impact in the Himalyan Range and the adjoining regions in the past6. The year 1978 witnessed widespread flooding and landslide activity due to cloud bursts and flash floods in the region. Land sliding in June 1980 had taken a toll of 24 human lives in Uttarkashi District. The disastrous landslide of 23 September 2000 in the area caused widespread damage. All these make it necessary to properly evaluate the potential hazards and suggest appropriate counter measures for future development of steep mountain sides and narrow valleys. Based on remote sensing data, this particular stretch of area has been classified as potential landslide hazard zone7. However, on the spot field investigations are necessary to pinpoint the exact areas susceptible to failure under a given set of conditions.

3. References

1. Geological Survey of India, pdf. Cs_varnavrat-slide. 2. Valdiya, K. S., Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun, slide 1980, p. 292. 3. Agarwal, N. C. and Kumar, G., Geology of the upper Bhagirathi and Yamuna valleys, Uttarkashi Distt, Kumaum Himalaya. Himalayan Geol., 1973, 3, 123. 4. IAEG (Commission on landslide). Bull. Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 1990, 41, 1316.

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