ISRO releases images, shows Joshimath sank 5.4 cm in 12 days

The satellite images of the Joshimath released by the National Remote Sensing Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have confirmed that the entire town is sinking at a rapid pace.

The preliminary, submitted by ISRO has shown that the entire town, including the Arm’s helipad and the Narasimha temple, has been marked as a sensitive zone.

Hyderabad-based NRSC, has released the images – taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite – of the areas that are sinking. The report has claimed that the land subsidence in Joshimath over the past 10-12 days, up to 5.4 cm, in comparison to a ‘slow subsidence’ of 9 cm in seven months between April to November 2022.

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According to the NRSC report ‘a rapid subsidence event was triggered’ from December 27, 2022 till January 8, 2023, affecting central Joshimath.

“A subsidence zone, including the Army helipad and Narsing temple, resembling a generic landslide shape has been identified, with the crown of subsidence located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2,180 m,” read the report.

Notably, the Uttarakhand government is already conducting rescue operations in danger-prone areas and massive migration and relocation is taking place. The satellite images have also indicated that Joshimath-Auli road is at risk of collapse due to the land subsidence.

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