A brief address of the causal factors, mechanisms, and the effects of a major landslide in Kangra valley, North-Western Himalaya, India

Soldha landslide zone is one of the prominent sites in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh that witnessed large-scale mass movement in October 2013. This landslide destroyed six houses along with six livestock sheds causing the death of animals along with the destruction of 5.60 ha of agricultural land and 23 ha of forest cover that got uprooted. The study discusses the main geomorphic, geometrical, anthropogenic, and climatic parameters bordering the landslide zone which buried a complete village under the debris. This landslide zone resides at the thrust contact zone between the Middle Siwalik weathered sandstone-clay (the failed slope material) and the Upper Siwalik Boulder Conglomerates. The study of slope material shows its composition as well-graded sand and less than 30% gravels which reflected the weak and weathered condition of the slope material. The geometrical features of the landslide planiform and the rainfall analysis have helped to reveal the trigger factor of this progressive slope failure. The rainfall and the seismic data analysis have shown that the active tectonics due to the presence of thrust near the toe of the landslide have led to the progressive sub-surface disturbances and the monsoon rainfall has acted as a trigger factor for the slope mass movement. This study has addressed the geological as well as the climatic factors that have led to the mass movement and revealed the impact of the structural feature on a moderately inclined slope with settlements.