Joshimath Sinks At Rate Of 2.5 Inches Per Year, Says Report; House Cracks Found In Aligarh

House Cracks: Amid the house cracks in Joshimath and its surrounding areas, a two-year study by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing reported that the area have been sinking at the rate of 6.5 cm or 2.5 inch per year. The institute has been using satellite data of the area, which sees a lot of tectonic activity and is a very sensitive.

Moreover, cracks in houses are found in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh. The situation has triggered panic among locals amid peaking fears of land subsidence in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath.

Sinking Town’s Report By The Institute

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 the Joshimath town, data shows.

The unfolding disaster is not limited to Joshimath. In Karnaprayag will be soon turned into the “Sinking Town”. Residents of one locality Bahuguna Nagar has flagged massive cracks that have appeared in at least 50 homes over the last few months. Moreover, Cracks have appeared in five houses in Aligarh’s Kanwariganj area. The situation has triggered panic among locals amid peaking fears of land subsidence in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath.

Also Read: Joshimath Land Subsidence: Joshimath Divided Into Three Zones, Buildings With Maximum Cracks To Be Demolished Soon

House Cracks In Aligarh’s Kanwariganj

Ahead of the Joshimath’s condition, similar cracks in houses are found in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh. Cracks have appeared in five houses in Aligarh’s Kanwariganj area.

In a report by news agency ANI, a local, Shashi said, “Over the last several days, cracks have appeared in some of our houses due to which we are living in panic. We have complained about it but the municipal corporation authorities are not taking any concrete actions and are only giving assurances. We are afraid that the houses may collapse.”

Moreover, the locals claimed that a pipeline laid under the government’s Smart City initiative is now leaking, which resulted in cracks.

“It has been almost four days. We have informed the relevant departments, but no assistance has been provided so far. We are being forced to live in terror,” said Afsha Mashroor, another local.

Taking notes from the prevailing conditions, the civic body’s team arrived with bulldozers in the night. The chief engineer, Satish Chandra, asked the affected houses to be evacuated immediately over security concerns.

The engineer said that the cracks in the houses are a result of a crack under the road. Residents have been asked to vacate their houses, he added.

The municipal corporation has blocked the underground drain for now. They said action will be taken against those who choked the flow of the drain.