Joshimath could sink entirely, ISRO warns
SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW INTENSITY OF LAND SUBSIDENCE
The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released satellite images of Joshimath and a preliminary report on land subsidence shows that the entire town may sink.
The pictures are taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite.
Hyderabad-based NRSC has released the satellite images of areas that are sinking.
In images, the entire town, including the Army’s helipad and the Narasimha temple, has been marked as sensitive zone.
On the basis of ISRO’s preliminary report, Uttarakhand government is conducting rescue operation in danger-prone areas and the people in these areas are being shifted to safer places on priority.
Growing danger
According to the report, the land subsidence was slow between April and November 2022, during which Joshimath had sunk by 8.9 cm. But between December 27, 2022 and January 8 , the intensity of land subsidence increased and the town sank by 5.4cm in 12 days.
The “sinking” temple town, known to be the gateway to popular pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, is on the verge of a disaster with massive cracks appearing in buildings and roads. Some 4,000 people have been moved to relief camps after a satellite survey.
Besides hotels and business establishments, 678 homes are in danger, the Uttarakhand government has said.
Demolition work
Residents and experts blame the crisis on unplanned and chaotic infrastructure projects in the region, especially a power plant that involved blasts and drilling in the mountains.
The satellite images show that the Joshimath-Auli road is also going to collapse due to the land subsidence.
Compensation
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that 99 families from the area have been relocated so far and Rs150,000 ex gratia is being provided to them.
Dhami said that Rs150,000 is being given immediately to all those whose houses, shops and businesses have been affected.
Dhami said that no houses have been demolished so far and a survey team is present onsite to assess the situation.