ISRO Report: Joshimath sank 5.4 cm in 12 days

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released satellite images which show that Joshimath has sank at a pace of 5.4 cm in just 12 days — December 27, 2022 and January 8, 2023.

Land subsidence is the latest challenge which this Himalayan town is facing, a gateway to sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib. ISRO said between April and November 2022, Joshimath had sunk by 8.9 cm, relatively slower.

The pictures were taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite. A report from the National Remote Sensing Centre at ISRO said the subsidence, confined to the central part of Joshimath town, resembles a generic landslide shape — tapered top and fanning out at base.

The Army Helipad and Narsingh Temple are the prominent landmarks in the subsidence zone which is in the central part of town. The satellite images show that the Joshimath-Auli road is also going to collapse due to the land subsidence.

As of now, 169 families consisting of 589 members have been shifted to relief centres. There are 835 rooms serving as relief centres in Joshimath and Pipalkoti which can accommodate 3,630 people.

An interim compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh has been paid so far to 42 affected families. On January 12, the chief minister of Uttarakhand said a committee would decide the market rate for compensation to be paid to the families affected in Joshimath. The Uttarakhand government is conducting rescue operations in danger-prone areas on the basis of ISRO’s preliminary report.

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