Pernote Landslide, Ramban, J&K, India

On 25 April 2024, a massive landslide struck the village of Pernote along the Ramban–Gool road in Ramban District, Jammu and Kashmir. The event began with ground cracks at ~4 pm, followed by major slope displacement by 11 pm. The failure was a rotational debris slide involving mud, silt, clay, and rock fragments, transitioning into debris flow. The landslide extended ~1250 m from crown (1140 m) to toe (650 m) into the Chenab River, with a total width ~800 m and depth ranging 10–30 m with average depth of ~ 12m. Approximately 0.60 km² of the area was affected. Antecedent rainfall of 100–175 mm over 5 days saturated the slope-forming debris, reducing shear strength and triggering failure along pre-existing thrust planes and fissures. Damage included destruction of ~55 houses, collapse of four electricity towers, heavy damage to Ramban–Gool road (~800 m), and disruption of water supply pipelines. About ~500 residents were evacuated during landslide activity by the authorities. Precursor features such as cracks, bulges, and fissures were detected in field surveys in 2021, providing early warning signs of slope instability. This event illustrates the combined role of geology, rainfall, and human activity in slope destabilization, highlighting the need for early warning systems, slope stabilization, and sustainable land use in the Ramban sector of the Himalayas.