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Source: The post is based on the article “Joshimath sank by 5.4 cm in 12 days, says ISRO report” published in The Hindu on 13th January 2023
What is the News?
According to images released by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), Uttarakhand’s Joshimath has witnessed a rapid subsidence of nearly 5.4 cm in the past 12 days.
What is Subsidence?
Why is Joshimath sinking?
Joshimath town has great religious, spiritual and cultural importance. It is home to the monastery of Adi Sankaracharya and the gateway to the Badrinath temple.
However, it is built on the deposits of an old landslide which means the slopes can be destabilized even by slight triggers.
The town is also in Zone V, denoting the highest risk, in India’s seismic zonation scheme.
Hence, Joshimath’s geological setting together with the unplanned and rampant construction in and around the town has resulted in land subsidence.
