Joshimath 'Sinking', Shows Satellite Images. Authorities Toil To Pull Down 'Unsafe' Hotel — Timeline

As per the images released by ISRO, Joshimath sank 5.4 cm between December 27, 2022 and January 8, 2023, triggered by a possible subsidence event on January 2.

Police personnel deployed outside the Malari Inn, ahead of its demolition, in Joshimath of Chamoli district in Joshimath ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Satellite images released by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Friday showed that Uttaranchal’s subsidence-hit Joshimath sank 5.4 centimetres in 12 days, reported PTI while authorities toiled to pull down an “unsafe” hotel in the Himalayan town that has developed cracks in full swing.

As per the images released by ISRO, Joshimath sank 5.4 cm between December 27, 2022 and January 8, 2023, triggered by a possible subsidence event on January 2. It noted that the crown of the subsidence was located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2,180 metres.

The preliminary study by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) said the land subsidence was slow between April and November 2022, when Joshimath sank 8.9 cm.

Meanwhile, police personnel were deployed in large numbers around Malari Inn hotel, which has developed large cracks and is tilting precariously towards adjacent Mount View hotel, as the demolition operation was underway.

Joshimath Crisis: What We Know So Far

December 27: People of Joshimath warned of agitation after cracks appeared in their houses. After this, the administration investigated the cracks through a 5-member team of engineers and officers.

Meanwhile, the cracks kept increasing. The State and Central government took cognisance of the problem after the situation worsened. 

January 6: Fear increased among the residents as cracks appeared in about 500 houses and buildings. Evacuation of people living in affected houses to safer places was expedited.

January 7: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Joshimath to take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, Chamoli's District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said that the problem is only in a few areas. The CM directed all possible help to the affected people.

January 8: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) held a high-level meeting regarding the situation in Joshimath. The district administration was asked to shift the people to a safer place at the earliest. PM Modi spoke to the state's CM Dhami on this issue.

January 9: In the evening, a team from the Center reached Joshimath to take stock of the damage caused to the buildings. The team investigated and submitted the report to the state government. 478 houses and 2 hotels were declared as danger zones. At the same time, the Uttarakhand government decided to divide Joshimath into three zones. Till January 9, 81 families were displaced.

January 10: Demolition of the two hotels in Joshimath was stopped after protests by the locals. The hotel owners said that no notice was given to them. Along with this, they also demanded compensation. The Supreme Court refused to hold an urgent hearing on the matter.

January 11: Cracks started appearing in 723 houses of Joshimath. CM Dhami met the affected people in Joshimath and announced a help of Rs 1.5 lakh. The CM said that Rs 50,000 will be given for shifting and Rs one lakh as advance for compensation, adding that the final amount of compensation will be announced later. 

January 12: Cracks were seen in more than 50 other houses in Joshimath, earlier the figure was 723. People questioned as to how they could give up their property without the compensation being fixed. CM Dhami held a meeting with the officials. He said that Rs 1.5 lakh would reach the accounts of the affected by the evening.