Due to heavy rain in the area, the slope wash/slope debris mass got saturated. Saturation of the porous material led to loss of cohesion and inter friction angle of slide mass causing sliding and debris flow.

An Interim Report on Preliminary  Geological  Slope Stability Assessment of the Recent Disaster Affected Areas in Parts of Chamoli District, Uttarakhand by Bhupendra Singh, Bhupender Singh, Ajay Kumar and Arindam Roy, Senior Geologists, M-IV, NR GSI Dehr
UK_CHA_NH_ 014
Near Saldhar village
Breast wall along the road, channelization of water at higher elevation, slope modification by providing benches.
Heavy precipitation, toe cutting at steeper angle during road widening, satutration of overburden mass.