Landslide susceptibility assessment along the National Highway-244 from Batote to Doda, J & K, India: A study based on the Frequency Ratio Method

The National Highway-244 is highly susceptible to landslide occurrences, frequently resulting in road blockades and causing significant hardships for the local population. These landslides pose a threat to human lives, property and the environment, leading to substantial losses. In this study, an attempt has been made to carry out landslide susceptibility assessment through frequency ratio method along the National Highway-244 utilizing GIS and statistical computations. It considers eight parameters, which include topographical (slope, slope aspect, slope curvature, hill shade, and relief), anthropogenic (distance to road and distance to river) and geological parameters that mostly influence the occurrence of landslides in the area under investigation. The present study focuses only along National Highway-244 and data has been gathered from field visits and secondary sources. The results of the study inferred that the area under investigation falls into different susceptibility zones, namely very high, high, moderate, low, and very low, covering approximately 15%, 31%, 27%, 19%, and 8%, respectively of the total area. This study reveals that a considerable proportion, around 73%, of the study area falls within very high to moderate susceptibility zones. The conclusions drawn from this study hold significant implications for stakeholders and also provide valuable insights for future planning and infrastructure development, enabling them to make informed decisions. By considering the susceptibility zones identified in this study, stakeholders can implement appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of landslides, ensuring the safety and stability of the region.