Joshimath submerged 5.4 cm in just 12 days, show satellite image

Chamoli/New Delhi:

According to a report by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Joshimath in Uttarakhand witnessed a rapid rainfall of 5.4 cm in just 12 days.

Satellite images released by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Center show that the city sank 5.4 cm between December 27 and January 8.

Quoting eyewitnesses, the report said that “a rapid subsidence event that began on 2 January 2022” caused the massive land subsidence.

There was a rapid transfer of soil in central Joshimath, which includes the Army helipad and the Narsingh temple. “The Crown of the Subsidence is located near the Joshimath-Auli road at an altitude of 2180 metres,” ISRO said.

The space agency also found that the rate of sinking was much lower in the previous months – between April and November 2022 – during which Joshimath sank by 9 cm.

“Slow precipitation of up to 9 cm has been recorded within Joshimath city over a period of 7 months between April and November 2022,” the report said.

The pictures were taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite.

Joshimath, the temple town that was known to be ‘sinking’ for some time, reached a crisis this year due to massive cracks in buildings and roads. Around 4,000 people have been shifted to relief camps following a satellite survey.

The Uttarakhand government has said that 678 houses are at risk, apart from hotels and business establishments. Some buildings are leaning precariously, posing a danger to nearby structures.

The demolition work of two multi-storey hotels – Malari Inn and five-storey Mount View – considered unsafe began yesterday.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who visited Joshimath on Thursday and held meetings with local people and experts, said a committee will decide the rate of compensation to be given to the affected families, keeping in mind the interests of the stakeholders.

“As of now, Rs 1.5 lakh will be given to each affected family. This is only a temporary measure. We are still working on the rates of compensation,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a high-level meeting at his home with Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, RK Singh, Bhupendra Yadav and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and senior government officials to review the situation.

The unfolding calamity is not limited to Joshimath. In Karnprayag, seen as the gateway to Joshimath, residents of one locality – Bahuguna Nagar – have witnessed massive cracks in at least 50 houses over the past few months.

Joshimath is said to be the “winter seat” of Lord Badrinath, whose idol is brought from the main Badrinath temple in the city to the Vasudev temple every winter. It is also the gateway to Hemkund Sahib, the holy shrine of the Sikhs.