" Landslide is the most common hazard in Himachal Pradesh, which causes immense risk to life and property. Almost every year the state is affected by one or more major landslides affecting the society in many ways. Loss of life, damage of houses, roads, means of communication, agricultural land, are some of the major consequences of landslides. The fragile nature of rocks forming the mountains, along with the climatic conditions and various anthropogenic activities has made the state vulnerable to the Landslides. District wise landslide vulnerability in the State is as follows.Triggering of landslides is both a natural and anthropogenic phenomena. As in other parts of Himalayas the landslide activity in Himachal Pradesh also varies with altitude, geology and topography. Various geophysical factors such as steepness of slopes, saturation by heavy rains, melting snow and ice, rock vibrations, excess load from embankments, fills, waste & debris dumps change in water content, frost, change in vegetable cover and toe cutting by rivers and streams are some of the other natural factors influencing the occurrence of landslides. The vulnerability of course has increased many times in the recent past due to various developmental activities. Deforestation, unscientific road construction, terracing, water intensive agricultural practices, and encroachment on steep hill slopes are some of the anthropogenic factors that have contributed towards increased intensity and frequency of landslides. Jhakri, Pangi, Powari, Urni, Sholdan, Nichar, KhadraDhank, Thangi, Barua are some of the most common landslide that has affected the NH-22 in Satluj valley.
Experts point out that unscientific land use and unplanned expansion of urban areas is also overloading and destabilising the slopes in the towns and cities such as Shimla. Overloaded slopes may initially cause only minor landslides, but at later stage could trigger larger landslides. The state capital Shimla is also sinking at several places due to digging of slopes for construction and infrastructure development. First major landslide occurred in Shimla in February 1971 when a large northern portion of the Ridge slumped down threatening the safety of reservoirs below. Since then many areas of the town have become prone to landslides and situation worsens during rainy season when vulnerable roads are washed away at many places.Flash floods, particularly in narrow river gorges are also responsible for triggering the major landslides in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the flash floods triggered landslides are as follows:
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