Joshimath: Joshimath of Uttarakhand is sinking. Cracks have appeared in 561 houses here. The work of evacuating about 600 families from the area spread over 4,677 sq km is underway. About 5 thousand people are in panic. They are afraid that their houses may collapse anytime. The maximum impact is in Ravigram, Gandhinagar and Sunil wards of the city.
According to media reports, cracks started appearing in the houses of Joshimath 13 years ago. When the situation went out of control, orders were recently iven to stop the work on NTPC Power Project and Char Dham All Weather Road. Experts say that due to blasting and tunneling, the mountains are sinking. If it is not stopped immediately, the city may turn into rubble.
Thick cracks are visible
The land is continuously sinking in Joshimath. Thick cracks are visible on houses and roads.
Joshimath is located at a height of 6150 feet. It is a gateway to several Himalayan mountain climbing expeditions, trekking trails and pilgrim centers like Badrinath, Hemkund, Valley of Flowers.
Rocky slopes of mountains are left bare
The situation in Joshimath is sensitive. The reports released on the geological location of Joshimath explain why this city is so unstable. Experts say that the development had destroyed the forests that existed in the Joshimath area. The rocky slopes of the mountains are left bare and without trees.
Joshimath is situated at an altitude of about 6,000 feet, but due to the increase in settlement, the forest cover has slipped back up to 8,000 feet. Erosion and land sliding have increased due to lack of trees. During this, there is no forest left to stop the sliding big rocks.
Factors are not recent
According to Kalachand Sain, Director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, a variety of factors both man-made and natural have led to the subsidence of Joshimath and the factors are not recent but have built up over a long period of time.
Joshimath's foundations are vulnerable
"The three main factors are Joshimath's vulnerable foundations as it was developed on the debris of a landslide triggered by an earthquake more than a century ago, its location in seismic zone 5 which is more prone to earthquakes besides gradual weathering and water percolation which reduce the cohesive strength of the rocks over time," Sain explained.
Existence of Joshimath may disappear
If the situation is not handled immediately, the existence of Joshimath may disappear. Geologists say that Joshimath is sliding towards the Alaknanda river. This can affect an army brigade, Garhwal Scouts and a battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Scientists have warned that if effective steps are not taken immediately, a major natural disaster may occur. In this the existence of Joshimath can be erased and it can turn into a rubble.
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