Geological factors to rampant development: Decoding the reasons for Joshimath crisis

Nine technical reports of central government institutions on Joshimath show how geological instability, rampant development (over 4,200 buildings) and traffic-induced.

- Neeraj Santoshi

Nine technical reports of central government institutions on Joshimath show how geological instability, rampant development (over 4,200 buildings) and traffic-induced vibrations may have contributed to the development of cracks and ground fissures in the holy town located on ancient landslide residue in Chamoli district. The reports were commissioned by state and central governments to understand different aspects of sudden emergence of cracks in the town between November 2022 and January 2023.

Magnitude

The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) report on Deformation Analysis showed that the central, eastern, and southern (high altitude) parts of the Joshimath town displayed a higher rate of land displacement, about 12 cm per year, as compared to other areas.