Forecasting Landslide in Chukha from Index Properties of Soil-Research to Policy Making

The Kingdom of Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayas approximately between latitudes 26° 41’52” N to 28° 14’ 52” N and longitudes 88° 44’ 54” E to 92° 41’ 7” E. The 38,686 square kilometers of landlocked and isolated mountain country has elevations ranging from about 160 meters in the southern part to more than 7500 meters in the northern part. People habituating along the steep slope valleys with river flowing at the foot of gorges are the finest epitome of exquisite scenery for outside world. However, such slopes particularly the unstable and loose ones pose greatest threat to the mankind and the development of the country. The complex arrangement of topography, constant tectonic movement and others human induced activities accelerate the landslide which are already active. The landslide problems in Bhutan dates back to 1960s when first road construction took place in the country. Every monsoon season is marked with countless landslide across the country, among which the landslide between Phuntsholing to Thimphu highway is the most frequent and disparaging. Many people lose their valuables and lives during the summer season every year due to landslides and falling stones on the highway. This research will help in bettering the knowledge in landslides and also combating it with necessary means. The main objective of this study is to comprehend the activating processes and mechanism of the landslide as well as examine to predict the possibility of another landslide by seeking natural causes and anthropogenic factors.