Bhedetar Landslide, Eastern Nepal: Aftermath of the Sikkim Earthquake (18th September 2011)

Abstract

The Bhedetar Landslide is one of the numerous landslides in Eastern Nepal that were triggered by the 18th September 2011 Sikkim earthquake (M: 6.9). The landslide is a rock avalanche type which caused serious damages to the 69+000 and 69+500 chainages of the Koshi Highway. Huge boulders were fallen down from the hill slope and rolled down hitting and sweeping the road surface at 69+000 chainage and damaging the road surface at 69+500 chainage located just below the 69+000 chainage. The road was fully blocked for the traffic movement and pedestrians for two and half days. Even at the time of our study (first week of April, 2012), the road sections at 69+000 and 69+500 chainages were single lane temporary track with earthen surface and huge rock blocks were in both sides of the road. This present paper describes the general condition of the Bhedetar Landslide and attempts to decipher causes of sliding besides the main trigger.