Understanding How Joshimath is Sinking: A Geology 101 of the Himalayan City
Joshimath is a small town in Uttarakhand, India. It is also one of the fast-dying towns in India as it has faced a series of natural and man-made calamities over the past few years. The reason behind its demise is because of its geology. The city literally rests on the Deodar forests and has been suffering from an increased rate of subsidence since June 2015 after several months of heavy rain leading to massive landslides. But why is Joshimath sinking? What are the causes and what can be done to save this once thriving city? Read on to know more...
Geology of Joshimath: A brief understanding
All the towns and cities on the foothills of the Himalayas are basically formed due to the combination of three aspects of the region - geology, climate and human activities. Joshimath is surrounded by Deodar forests. The Deodar trees are basically found in the Western Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The soil in Joshimath is mostly of Guajrati nature and is highly susceptible to the effects of weathering and erosion. These soils are generally found on the foot hills and are plain terrain. The Deodar forests are found at a height of 2100 to 2700 m above mean sea level. Due to the presence of high silica content in these forests, the soil is highly prone to weathering. The climate of Joshimath is generally humid, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The annual rainfall in Joshimath is generally above 2200 mm, which means quite a lot of water runs through the area. The water runs through the area due to the presence of gorges and gullies in the area. Due to the runoff from the hills, the area around Joshimath experiences a lot of flooding in monsoon season, which is one of the main reasons for the town’s growth.
Why is Joshimath sinking?
The geology and climate of Joshimath are very prone to natural calamities such as landslides, floods and erosion. The area has been facing these calamities since years due to its geology and climate. The soil in this region is generally highly susceptible to weathering and erosion. The Deodar forests around Joshimath are mainly comprised of highly susceptible to weathering and erosion. The soils in Joshimath are mainly of Guajrati nature and are highly susceptible to the effects of weathering and erosion. As the area around Joshimath experiences heavy rainfall and gorges and water flow through the area, it causes massive landslides and massive erosion. This leads to massive siltation in the water channels and streams in the area and ultimately leads to massive sinking of the area. There have been reports of massive land subsidence in Joshimath since the past 70 years, which has increased over the years.
Current situation in Joshimath
The entire Joshimath is slowly sinking due to the increased rate of subsidence. Many buildings and houses have already collapsed, while many more are expected to collapse in the future. Many roads and bridges are also sinking due to the heavy siltation and erosion. There are reports of birds flying inside people’s houses and animals having a tough time walking on the roads. The people of Joshimath are facing a lot of problems and hardships due to the rapid rate of sinking. The government of Uttarakhand has taken many initiatives to save the city, but there is no result yet. There have been many campaigns to save Joshimath, but there is still a long way to go. The main problem is that the people of Joshimath are not aware of the problem and have become a part of it. They have come to terms with the fact that their city is sinking, so there is no need to take any initiative further.
What’s next for Joshimath?
The people of Joshimath are not aware of the problem and have become a part of it. They have come to terms with the fact that their city is sinking, so there is no need to take any initiative further. All they want is to save their city and buildings, but there are no efforts made towards that direction. The government of Uttarakhand has taken many initiatives to save the city, but there is no result yet. The people of Joshimath are not aware of the problem and have become a part of it. There are many campaigns to save Joshimath, but there is still a long way to go. The people of Joshimath have no idea about the present situation of the city. All they want is to save their houses and buildings, but there are no efforts made towards that direction. The people of Joshimath have no idea about the present situation of the city. The government of Uttarakhand has taken many initiatives to save the town, but there is no result yet.
Conclusion
The people of Joshimath have no idea about the present situation of the city. The government of Uttarakhand has taken many initiatives to save the town, but there is no result yet. The people of Joshimath are not aware of the problem and have become a part of it. They have come to terms with the fact that their city is sinking, so there is no need to take any initiative further. The people of Joshimth are not aware of the problem and have become a part of it. All they want is to save their houses and buildings, but there are no efforts made towards that direction. It is very unfortunate that a city which used to be so prosperous is now sinking due to its geology and climate. However there is a solution to this problem, so it is extremely important to understand the geology of Joshimath and take necessary measures to save the city.
