Radon in drinking water poses radiation-related health risks. Investigating water-related health problems is indispensable, so the goal of the study was to determine how much radon was present in drinking water sources close to and far from the Balakot-Bagh (B-B) fault line (the site of a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in 2005) using the alpha-spectroscopy-based active method RAD-7. The sampling timeframe for the study was from May 16 to August 15, 2020. The radon level of the well water was higher, with an average value of 20.6 BqL^–1. These values were 19.5 and 9.3 BqL^–1 in spring and surface waters, respectively, although they were 7.7 and 5.5 BqL^–1 far away from the fault line, respectively, while in well water its content (activity) was 14.9 BqL^–1. The mean values for all water sources far and close from the fault line were 9.3 and 16.5 BqL^–1, respectively. The value close to the fault line exceeds the maximum contamination limit recommended in the United States of 11.1 BqL^–1, although the values far from the fault line were within limits. The doses determined from the radon levels of spring, well, and surface waters were 0.053, 0.056, and 0.025 mSv per year, respectively, and the mean dose of overall water-borne radon was 0.045 mSv. Based on regional comparisons, the mean radon concentrations in the drinking water sources for this study were higher than in Romania, Turkey, Italy, Poland, and India.

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of landslide susceptibility along the 83.5-km Chukyatan-Kumrat road, Upper Dir, North Pakistan. Despite its critical role in transportation and tourism, the region faces recurrent landslides due to hydrometeorological hazards, posing significant threats to stability. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, this study integrates the geological strength index (GSI) calculated from joint analysis of bedrock and landslide susceptibility index (LSI) analysis to understand the complex interactions underlying landslide occurrences. The study area contains a variety of rock formations, including metavolcanic, andesite, metarhyolite, igneous rocks, volcanic limestones, granodiorites, and spotted slates, which are overlain by remnant soils. Utilizing the landslide susceptibility index (LSI) map developed via the frequency ratio technique, regions proximal to road cuts, fault lines, and mineralogically altered and sheared lithology are identified as highly susceptible to future sliding events. GSI and rock mass rating (RMR) analyses categorized jointed bed rocks into relatively stable (zones 1 and 2; GSI 66–59, RMR classes II and III) and sheared and altered (zones 3 and 4; GSI 37–15, RMR class IV) segments, highlighting their differing susceptibilities. These zones have a moderately to highly weathered, slicken-sided jointed structure that allows rainwater and snow to infiltrate. The alteration mechanism of minerals such as chlorite, biotite, amphibole and alkali feldspar, as well as the influence of freeze–thaw cycles and precipitation on the pores and joints of bedrock, further weaken the rock, and there is a serious risk of landslide. This research contributes to the development of effective natural disaster mitigation and preparedness measures in the Chukyatan-Kumrat region. This study provides valuable insights for mapping landslide vulnerability in similar geological settings.