Why is Joshimath sinking?

Uttarakhand is a place we remember mostly for trips and scenic views of the Himalayas and our parents know it for all the religious sites. But the easier it is getting to access the nooks and corners of the state for tourists, the more damage it has brought to the land and its residents. Now, a scenic town, Joshimath, is sinking. 

Uttarakhand | Land subsidence and cracks in many houses continue in Joshimath. pic.twitter.com/5IUwq0a1zu

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 6, 2023

Where: Joshimath is located at the height of 6150 feet in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. It is a gateway to important Hindu pilgrimage sites like Badrinath (one of the four char dhams) and Hemkund Sahib.

• Adding to the trouble is the road widening project that is ongoing (now stopped) between Helong and Marwari for Char Dham pilgrims. 

What's happening: Houses and roads in Joshimath have developed deep cracks. On Monday midnight, residents panicked as they heard a crack underneath the ground. Now, the situation has forced an exodus of the residents. 

#WATCH | Land subsidence and cracks in many houses continue in Uttarakhand's Joshimath. Cracks have appeared on 561 houses in Joshimath, and water seepage continues from underground in JP Colony, Marwadi. pic.twitter.com/vo7IxIh1Xl

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2023

• By Wednesday, January 4, the evacuation had started. Residents were being shifted to safer locations. 

Uttarakhand | District administration rescue operation underway after continuous landslides in Joshimath. Shelter homes arranged for people whose houses were affected due to landslides (05.01) pic.twitter.com/3TSP07pxRx

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 6, 2023

• On Thursday, several locals had taken to the streets, blocking the Badrinath national highway in protest against the administration. They also demanded that construction activities in the area be stopped. 

Uttarakhand | People block Badrinath highway in Joshimath as several houses developed deep cracks, leaving them in a panicked state. pic.twitter.com/8buevtOUfg

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2023

What is the government doing? 

• The government has also ordered construction activities taking place in the area to stop.
• The constructions of BRO Helang Bypsas, NTPC Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower and all other construction activities have been brought to a halt.
• The Joshimath-Auli ropeway operations have also stopped till further orders. 
• The Uttarakhand government has also deployed a technical team to assess the situation.

Why is Joshimath sinking? According to reports, the sinking is the result of ground 'subsidence' or vertical sinking where the earth's surface gradually sinks with a displacement of subsurface materials. 

• Damage has been observed in almost all wards of Joshimath. 
• A survey conducted by the municipality of Joshimath last year stated that cracks have appeared in over 500 houses in the town over a year rendering them uninhabitable.
• Recently, cracks were reported in a total of 561 buildings, and 38 families were relocated. 

Warnings ignored: The cracks are not new. They even appeared in 2021. Warnings were issued about the sensitivity of the area nearly 50 years ago. 

• The 1976 Mishra Committee report had warned about such an eventuality in the future in Joshimath. 

The report advised against any heavy construction activities. But as we know very well, subsequent governments turned a deaf ear to the warning starting one after the other heavy 'developmental' projects. According to the report, Joshimath lies on an "ancient landslide" and hence the foundations aren't very strong. 

Why is Joshimath crumbling? Environment disaster in making?
WIHG Director Dr Kalachand Sain shares their views.
Listen in#ITHighlights #NewsToday #Joshimath| @PreetiChoudhry
Full prog: https://t.co/5IBa60Qebg pic.twitter.com/9NjnJ9Wvco

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) January 5, 2023

Now, the slow landslide has affected over 3,000 people and experts say it may be a precursor to a bigger landslide in the region.