Landslides: An environmental hazard in the pir-panjal himalayan range in Poonch district of J&K state, India

The Himalayas truely one of the most outstanding yet fragile ecosystems of our planet constitutes one of the most threatened life-support system on the earth today. The Pir-Panjal range a group of mountains situated in the inner Himalayan region is no longer left untouched by the development fever depicting the consequences of the same in the form of landslides, soil erosion, climate change and loss of biodiversity. Of them landslides is the most common and conspicuous environmental hazard prevailing almost every year in the study area. Occurrence of landslides not only disrupts the environmental equilibrium but also checks and retards the overall development of the area. The Pir-Panjal range is under threat due to constant occurrence of landslides caused by natural and anthropogenic mechanisms. Therefore, the management of such an environmental hazard has become one of the prime importances in the pursuit of human development. In this study, an attempt has been made to find out the landslides affected areas in the Mughal road in Poonch district. The possible factors triggering the landslides and need for checking of landslides have also been discussed.