Every Year, Joshimath And Neighbourhoood Sinks By 2.5 Inch, Study Finds
NDTV
Satellite images collected from July 2020 to March 2022 show the entire area is slowly sinking. The red dots mark the sinking parts. They are spread across the Valley and not limited to Joshimath, data shows.
Joshimath and its surrounding areas have been sinking at the rate of 6.5 cm or 2.5 inch per year, a two-year study by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing has found. The Dehradoon-based institute has been using satellite data of the area, which sees a lot of tectonic activity and is very sensitive.
Joshimath, the temple-town known to be 'sinking' for a while, reached a crisis this year as buildings and roads developed massive cracks. Another town 90 km downhill has also started developing cracks. The locals in Joshimath blame the nearby Tapovan project of the National Thermal Power Corporation or NTPC, saying it has aggravated the situation.
Satellite images collected from July 2020 to March 2022 show the entire area is slowly sinking. The red dots mark the sinking parts. They are spread across the Valley and not limited to Joshimath, data shows.
More than 110 families in Joshimath have left their homes and the plan is to evacuate the whole town.