Abstract
The Karakoram Highway links north Pakistan with southwest China. It passes through unique geomorphological, geological and tectonic setting. This study focused 200-km-long section of the highway starting from Besham until Chilas. Landslides are frequent and are mostly triggered by torrential rain during Monsoon and Westerlies, leading to highway blockade. Rockfall and debris flow are prime mode of slope failures. Regional to site-specific approach was implemented to assess risk associated with these two modes. Remote sensing-based techniques were used to identify potential hazardous sites, which were further investigated for risk assessment. Modified Pierson’s rockfall hazard rating system (RHRS) rated potential rockfalls, whereas semi-quantitative technique was employed to assess debris flows. Normalized scores of each site shaped the final map, further classified into four zones: very high, high, intermediate and low risk.
Highlights
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a lifeline of North Pakistan, of the Gilgit Baltistan
The highly fragmented Jijal complex and massive amphibolites have a large number of rockfalls along cut slopes
The Pattan earthquake triggered many rockfalls leading to severe damage on these two locations
Summary
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a lifeline of North Pakistan, of the Gilgit Baltistan. Factors controlling occurrence and its probability are different for each landslide process (rockfall and debris flow). Previous researchers used regional approach involving remote sensing, detailed field survey for simulations and statistical analysis of causative factors for risk assessment of debris slide and flows (Capra et al 2002; Hürlimann et al 2006; Gentile et al 2008; Liu et al 2009; Baumann et al 2010; Santi et al 2011; Wrachien and Mambretti, 2011; Lari et al 2011; Liang et al 2012; Chen et al 2012; Cui et al 2013; Ma et al 2013; Rickenmann, 2016;). Afterwards, detailed field survey was conducted to rate indexes responsible for its formation and initiation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
