Joshimath Landslide: How houses and roads are collapsing in Joshimath, why is this an alarm bell for the country's security?

The situation is continuously worsening due to landslides happening in Joshimath, Uttarakhand. The landslide has engulfed all the wards of the area. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the PMO is continuously monitoring the matter. So far 70 families have been shifted to safer places.

The scope of rapid landslides has started moving towards the Indo-Tibet border. Experts say that if there is no effective stop to the occurrence of landslides soon, it can also pose a threat to the security of the country.

Where is Joshimath situated? Why has the issue of landslides in Joshimath come up for discussion? Which landslides are happening? Was there any warning about the landslide? How much can its danger and scope increase further? Let's know...

Where is Joshimath located?

Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, popularly known as the 'Gateway of the Himalayas', is a city and a municipal board in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an altitude of 6150 ft (1875 m) which is also the gateway to pilgrimage centers like Badrinath. It is one of the four major Peethas established by Adi Shankaracharya. Apart from being a religious, mythological, and historical city, this area is also very important from a strategic point of view. The Indo-Tibet border is just 100 kilometers away from here. Travelers have to pass through this Joshimath to go to Hemkund Sahib, Auli, Valley of Flowers, etc.

Is there a sudden landslide in Joshimath?

These incidents of landslides are not happening suddenly. Joshimath has been sinking for a long time. The local people's Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has been agitating for the last several years regarding this landslide, but no hearing was held. In 2006, Dr. Spapnamita Chowdhary, a senior landslide scientist, studied Joshimath. He had submitted his report in this regard to the Government and Disaster Management Department. They are also not aware of what happened to the report.

Why has the issue of landslides come up for discussion now?

When suddenly big cracks appeared in many houses on Monday night, fear spread throughout the whole city. These cracks are increasing every day. Cracks have appeared in many houses of Jaypee Company's residential colony located in Marwari Ward. Suddenly brown water started leaking from the hill behind the colony at night. A buttress of the colony also collapsed due to the crack. Along with this, thick cracks also appeared on the Badrinath Highway. At the same time, slight cracks were also seen in the residential buildings of the tehsil. The Jyoteshwar temple and the temple complex have developed cracks due to landslides.

The multi-storey hotel Mount View and Malari Inn in Singhdhar ward were obliterated due to land subsidence. According to the local people, around 10 pm on Monday, the sound of cracking started coming from the walls of the hotel, due to which the people of five families living behind these hotels came into a panic.

What is the reason for this landslide?

The landslide in Joshimath was attributed to haphazard construction, seepage of water, erosion of topsoil, and obstruction of the natural flow of water streams due to man-made reasons. Landslide scientist Dr. Spapnamita Chowdhary says that there has been uncontrolled development of Joshimath in the last two decades. The rain and the water coming out of the houses throughout the year instead of going into the rivers is getting absorbed inside the ground. This is the main reason for landslides. Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers are continuously doing toe-cutting in the Vishnuprayag area. Because of this also, landslides have increased rapidly in Joshimath. Chaudhary says that the Kedarnath disaster in 2013, the Raini disaster in 2021, and cloudburst incidents in Pandukeshwar of the Badrinath area are also largely responsible for landslides.

Was there never any warning about landslides before?

The incidents of landslide may have come to the fore in Joshimath today but its warning was given 50 years ago. Joshimath is situated on the age-old debris of the mountains. It has been cracking since the beginning. When Uttarakhand was a part of UP, for the first time in 1976, an 18-member committee was constituted under the chairmanship of SC Mishra, who was the commissioner of Garhwal, to investigate it. The Mishra committee had confirmed in its report that Joshimath is slowly sinking.

Were any recommendations made to prevent landslides?

The Mishra committee had advised fixing the areas prone to landslides and landslides and plant saplings there. Along with this, the committee had said that further construction should be done in the area only after checking the stability of the site and a ban on quarrying should be imposed on the slopes.

No boulder should be removed by excavation or blasting and no tree should be cut in the landslide area. Extensive plantation work should be undertaken especially in the area between Marwari and Joshimath and the cracks which have developed on the slopes should be sealed.

Most importantly, the overhanging boulders at the foot of the hill should be properly supported and river training measures should be taken.

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