Poorly Engineered Roads in Nepal Trigger Landslides

The 2016 monsoon season has been particularly severe in Nepal and has resulted in mass flooding and dozens of landslides. Reports indicate that there have been 73 deaths in 19 separate landslides in a single week. The landslides typically occur as a result of the heavy rainfall in areas with unstable soil conditions. 

 Unfortunately, these unstable soil conditions can sometimes be man-made. According to reports from the area dating back to 2013, poorly engineered roads have been the cause of a large number of landslides. The use of excavating equipment in geologically sensitive areas without proper investigation of its impact on surrounding soils has caused many slopes that were otherwise stable to no longer be so. These issues were further compounded by the 2015 earthquakes. 

 A notable example is the Araniko Highway which was blocked by landslides several weeks ago. While the main road was being repaired, an alternative route was being excavated using bulldozers. At approximately fifty percent completion, a large portion of the new roadway collapsed due to rainfall and caused several landslides.

It is clear that low quality engineering and road construction is causing unnecessary and entirely preventable losses from landslides. Unless this problem is addressed, the trend will continue.