In the early days of April 2025, a familiar silence in the Ramban hills was broken—this time, by the roar of sliding earth. The recent landslide on National Highway 44 in Ramban district (Jammu & Kashmir) in April 2025 once again brought attention to the fragile nature of infrastructure in the Himalayan region , a terrain defined by geological complexity and dynamic tectonic activity. This catastrophic event, triggered in April 2025 following a bout of intense rainfall and cloudbursts, not only disrupted a critical transport artery between Jammu and Srinagar but also raised serious questions about the adequacy of engineering practices in such sensitive zones.
Ramban lies in one of the most geologically complex zones of the Himalayas which are Formed by the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates and are the youngest and highest mountain ranges in the World . The region is mostly made up of metamorphic rocks like schist, slate, and phyllite that are relatively fractured and highly weathered . These fractures lead to slipping, especially when saturated with water. The lithology of the region also includes crushed rock masses and fault gouge materials along thrust zones, further compounding slope instability under heavy moisture ingress.
Adding to this fragility is the presence of the Main Central Thrust (MCT), a major geological fault that separates Greater Himalayas from Lesser or Lower Himalayas . It marks the boundary between older metamorphic rocks and younger sedimentary layers in the region. As Such zones are under constant stress and they frequently experience micro-earthquakes and ground shifts, quietly weakening the slopes over time.
The impact of rainfall is particularly potent in this setting. Water infiltration reduces the shear strength of slopes, lubricates potential failure planes, and adds weight to already precarious soil and rock masses. This natural predisposition to slope failure was significantly amplified by anthropogenic activities associated with the widening and tunneling along NH-44. Tunnels, such as those being constructed as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail and road projects, often cut through structurally weak zones without adequate pre-construction geological modeling. In the case of Ramban, several tunnels intersect faulted and water-charged zones, where sudden collapses during excavation are not uncommon due to poor rock mass quality and high pore water pressures.
What makes the situation more concerning is the repeated lack of attention in construction practices. Excavation work has often been carried out without proper slope safety measures, with poor planning for water drainage, and a limited understanding of how water and underground layers interact. Because of this, many parts of the highway have become highly risky. In multiple instances, slope cuttings were left unsupported , leading to progressive erosion and eventual failure. Even when retaining walls were built, they often lacked strong foundations or firm anchoring, and were damaged by fast-flowing water or soil movement during heavy rain.
Additionally, the alignment of NH-44 in several places follows old landslide scars, a fact that has not been adequately addressed through proper risk mapping or detailed area studies. These routes, planned a long time ago without modern tools like satellite mapping or digital surveys, continue to put important roads in areas that are naturally unsafe. The failure to incorporate such knowledge into modern engineering practices underscores a systemic gap between geological understanding and infrastructure execution
This event shows not just a disturbance in nature’s balance, but also a lack of planning ahead. A stronger connection between geological knowledge and engineering—especially by using real-time monitoring, proper ground testing, and active slope protection methods—can help reduce how often these disasters happen and how serious they become. Without this combined approach, each rainy season and every digging or construction activity in the Himalayas will continue to put lives, property, and vital connections at risk in one of India’s most sensitive and important regions.
As India works to improve and expand its infrastructure in mountain areas, the NH-44 landslide should serve as a serious warning. It’s essential that future projects are led not just by engineering skill, but also by a clear understanding and respect for the land’s geological nature.
Detailed geological surveys before any construction.
Slope stabilization techniques, such as soil nailing or retaining walls.
Better water drainage systems to prevent saturation of weak slopes.
Controlled deforestation, and in fact, afforestation in vulnerable zones.

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