Stability assessment of slide zones in Lesser Himalayan part of Yamunotri pilgrimage route, Uttarakhand, India

The present study deals with the slope stability analysis and geotechnical assessment of a part of pilgrimage route to one of the holy shrines of India, i.e. Yamunotri. The route also embraces a proposed site for 204 m high concrete gravity dam across River Yamuna near Lakhwar village with the aim of generation of 300 MW power. Several slide zones were identified and based on the discontinuity orientation, structural features and debris materials, they are recognised as planar, wedge or circular failure types. The morphological dimensions, structural data, orientations and geotechnical parameters of circular failure slides within weathered quartzites, phyllites and shales were evaluated by extensive field work and by laboratory tests for their stability analysis. Internal mechanisms, cohesion and angle of internal friction that resist shear stress in slope materials, obtained from direct shear test are showing minor variation due to relatively consistent grain size distribution and mineralogical composition. General slope is about 40°–43° with sparse vegetation. Materials in and around slide zones are sands with appreciable amount of fines falling in SP–SM category as per Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), except Niste B slide which has clean sands lying in SP group. Factor of safety, computed by requisite parameters of strength, soil and slope properties in circular failure charts, varies from 1.02 to 1.23 in dry conditions while it reduces below unity with increasing saturation, representing stable conditions in dry conditions but with seepage and saturation along the cracks and discontinuities during rainfall make them unstable. Presence of steep slopes, proximity to stream channels and significant weathered and jointed area are causative factors in the route with rainfall and road widening as major triggers initiating the failure.