Joshimath Is Sinking: Here Are The Before And After Pictures
Saumya Rastogi
18-01-2023, 10:13 IST
www.herzindagi.com
The holy town of Joshimath is revered by the Hindus and Sikhs as an important pilgrimage centre of the country. It is the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, and international skiing destination Auli.
Where Is Joshimath?
Joshimath is located in the Chamoli District in the state of Uttarakhand. Located at a height of 1875 metres, it attracts tens of thousands of devotees every year.
What Is Happening In Joshimath?
Since 7 February 2021, the area was severely affected by the 2021 Uttarakhand flood and its aftermath. The town is confirmed to be sinking due to its geographic location being along a running ridge.
Importance Of Joshimath
Joshimath is close to the pilgrimage town of Badrinath. The Shankaracharya Math is located there. It also sees a lot of devotees going to the Narsingh Temple, where the presiding deity Lord Narasimha is believed to have been established by Adi Sankara. The Indian Army also has an important military base in Joshimath, making it the closest army station to the Indo-Tibetan Border.
Why Is It Sinking?
While few have blamed the topography and climate change for the subsidence, others are blaming infrastructure development without a plan for the same.
Cracks Everywhere
Following the appearance of cracks on the houses and roads, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now and several have been evacuated.
If you liked this story, stay tuned to more from HerZindagi!