Joshimath is a small town located in Uttarakhand on the foothills of the Himalayas. The town is located on an ancient landslide site and in the last few decades it has faced an explosive rate of population and construction. The beautiful abode of Lord Badrinath is also the ground for the army troops posted along the Sino-Indian border.
Joshimath is also well-known among travelers since it acts as a sort of base camp for Himalayan expeditions. But terrifyingly enough the town is making headlines for the wrong reason, it is sinking.
The town of Joshimath is sinking
Residents have started protesting and raised a variety of concerns regarding the land beneath the town sinking. According to the residents, many houses situated there have developed cracks along their walls. The people are being forced to find structures to support the framework of the houses so as to keep them from crippling under their own weight. Over and above 500 houses in that region have developed cracks.
A recently conducted survey by a team of experts revealed that the fear among residents was indeed true. The city is actually sinking at its base. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken regarding this situation and said that the situation in Joshimath is being closely monitored. But when it comes to this impending disaster in Joshimath, there is more to it than meets the eye of the residents.
Joshimath is a town located on NH-7, the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway, in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand. The city serves the purpose of a tourist attraction since it acts as an overnight rest stop for travelers and pilgrims visiting Badrinath, Auli, and Valley of Flowers among the other tourist locations in the state.
Joshimath is also of great strategic importance to the Indian armed forces. It acts as a home to one of the Army’s most important cantonments of the Sino-Indian Border.
The town is located on a running ridge, that gets traversed by high-velocity running streams of Vishnuprayag, a confluence of the Dhauliganga and the Alaknanda rivers. A report from 2022 stated that the surrounding area around Joshimath is covered with thick layers of overburdened material.
While the news that the Joshimath sinking is making the headlines now, the scientists and geologists who have been working in the area were trying to sound the alarm for decades. The first report addressing this grave problem dates back to as early as 1976. They predicted that this disaster could pose injury to life and property.
The government-appointed Mishra Commission salvaged the crucial piece of information regarding Joshimath from that report, that the town is located on the site of an ancient landslide.
The biggest reason for Joshimath’s sinking is majorly related to the geography of the town. The city was established on the low-bearing capacity landslide debris which as warned by the experts cannot support a high rate of construction. The increased rate of construction, the making of hydroelectric projects, and the widening of the National Highway for easy movement have made the mountain slopes highly unstable in the last couple of decades.
The running streams from Vishnuprayag and other natural streams lead to land erosion and the scattered rocks in the area get covered with landslide debris. The debris comprises of boulders, gneissic rocks, and loose soil, all these resulting in the town’s crooked fate now.
The researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology recently conducted a survey in 2022 where they inferred that these gneissic rocks are highly weathered rocks having low cohesive value. They have a tendency of creating a high pore pressure when they get saturated with water, especially during the monsoon season. Thus the soil under Joshimath is not the type that can withstand heavy loads of construction.
A report by Dr. Swapnamita Vaideswaran, a scientist at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology revealed that,
“Seepage from streams uphill has been observed, which may have loosened the soil of Joshimath. The nalas disappear underground and arise overground downhill, bringing totally muddy water, and then join the Dhauliganga or the Alaknanda (beyond Vishnuprayag). The drainage system of the town of Joshimath is not well maintained. Waste water from the days’ usage flows through improper drains”
Dr. Swapnamita exclusively told India Today that,
“The nalas have been blocked by sludge that came from the 2013 Himalayan tsunami, which also facilitated the toe erosion in the region. The Rishiganga flood disaster also worsened the situation, followed by incessant rainfall between August to October in 2021. The problem had been long spreading”
How to save Joshimath?
The experts have recommended a complete shutdown of development and hydroelectric projects in that region. But the most challenging and urgent need is to relocate the residents to a safer place as of now so that they don’t get caught up in this. They should reimagine the town’s planning with the help of experts regarding how to accommodate the new variables and the changing geographical factors.
Drainage planning is one of the very first things that should be factored in, studied, and redeveloped. As more and more waste keeps seeping into the soil, it gets loosened from within. Thus the city suffers from poor drainage and sewer management.
The State Government has asked the irrigation department to look into the issue and create a new plan for the drainage system. Experts have also suggested replantation at vulnerable sites to help retain soil capacity. To save Joshimath there is an urgent need for a coordinated effort from the government and civil bodies with the aid of military organizations like the BRO.
Daylight robbery is not quite usual but it does not strike out the fact that it is highly possible. Many a time cases as such have surfaced online where normal people were robbed in broad daylight. Recently, the passengers in a taxi got robbed inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Four men rob taxi passengers at gunpoint in broad daylight and here is what Delhi Police have to say
On Saturday, a delivery agent and his associate were robbed at gunpoint by a group of unknown assailants, stealing around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh cash from them. In spite of having 16 security guards in the Pragati Tunnel, there were no CCTV cameras installed. Although the Public Works Department assured that cameras are installed, they did not confirm their operational conditions.
The victims made a complaint at Tilak Marg police station later in the evening. The Pragati tunnel is a 1.5 km tunnel that connects New Delhi with Sarai Kale Khan and Noida. The police said that following the complaint made by the victims, a case has been filed under Sections 397 IPC which covers robbery, or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt and 34 (common intention).
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pranav Tayal, has shared that the complainant can be identified as Patel Sajan Kumar and his associate Jigar Patel. Patel Sajan works as a delivery agent for a private firm in Chandni Chow and has informed the police that he and Jigar were going to Gurugram to deliver the cash to a client.
As per the registered complaint, the two of them hired an Ola cab from near Red Fort. As soon as the cab entered the Pragati Maidan tunnel from Ring Road, four assailants on two motorcycles surrounded their cab and robbed the cash off them keeping them at gunpoint.
Delhi Minister Atishi also took to Twitter and slammed the incompetency of the Lieutenant Governor. She tweeted,
LG साहब: अगर आपको @ArvindKejriwal के कामों का क्रेडिट लेने से फ़ुरसत मिले तो कभी अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी पर भी ध्यान दीजिए। दिल्ली वालों को सुरक्षा देना आपका काम है। और अब दिन दहाड़े दिल्ली में चोरी, डकैती और क़त्ल की वारदातें हो रही हैं। या तो आप सुरक्षा की ज़िम्मेदारी लीजिए,… https://t.co/RG4c9ozWnW
Coming across train service complaints on social media is nothing new. Very often than not we find passengers complaining about bland food or bugs in the cooked food provided to them. Quite recently someone took to Twitter regarding a complaint where they found plastic in the railway food. But the latest thing that happened has actually stunned everyone when a video of the roof of a passenger coach train surfaced online.
Indian Railways slammed over water leakage in AC coach
Netizens have harshly criticized the poor management and maintenance of the train coaches after a surprising video surfaced online. Recently, a video went viral on social media platforms in which it can be clearly seen rainwater seeping in through the roof of the 2-tier AC coach of the Avantika Express. The Congress party also reshared the video uploaded by a passenger and took to Twitter to play the blame game immediately.
“काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता। झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। (Wish some actual work would have been done for the Railways in place of empty propaganda. The railway minister who shows the flag is currently abroad, the named railway minister should pay attention)”
काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता।
झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। pic.twitter.com/FNLvQL1Ihu
It was a jab at the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who recently flagged off 11 Vande Bharat Express, the Railways’ newest hi-tech train.
Railways response to the above-mentioned tweet
The Western Railway took to Twitter to respond to that tweet hours later and stated that all the coaches of the Avantika Express train were properly checked.
“All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended to promptly. The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now. Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances”
All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended promptly.
The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now.
Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances. pic.twitter.com/V9QyKiIowJ
Thandi hawa ke sath sath sarkar ne barish ke pani ka bhi anand lene ke liye ye nayab tarikib lagai hai isme bhrastachar bilkul nhi hai aur haa jine murko ke ye lgta hai isme amir log travel krte hai to unko ye bta du amir log plan me jate hai aur dikhave wale amir train me….🤐
— Mahua Moitra Fans (@MahuaMoitraFans) June 25, 2023
This is probably not the first time that something has happened as per the claims of this Twitter user,
Recently travelled from 12424 Rajdhani Express to #Guwahati , had a very bad experience. As it was raining the rainwater was leaking in every coach and also there was no water in most of the dirty toilets. TTE ignored the complaint and asked to register complaint via phone.
On Sunday, Shah Rukh Khan aka the King Khan, completed 31 years in Bollywood industry. It was in 1992, when he made his debut in the industry with the movie Deewana opposite late actress Divya Bharti. As the fans celebrated the big day on social media with amazing messages and tributes for the actor, SRK also decided to celebrate the occasion with his fans in his own style.
Shah Rukh Khan completed 31 years in Bollywood
He took some time out of his busy schedule and held an #AskSRK session on Twitter. Starting the question and answer session on Twitter, SRK wrote:
“Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??”
In no time, his Tweet was flooded with a variety of questions from fans for their favorite actor. SRK, who is known for his hilarious sense of humor, gave amazing replies to his fans with wit and humor.
Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??
While interacting with the fans, King Khan stumbled upon a question that was asked by a female fan, who is currently pregnant with twins. The fan came up with an epic Tweet for the Pathaan actor. She asked:
“sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan.”
sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan ❤️ #AskSRK 5
Besides all the funny and hilarious answers, SRK was also seen giving some serious answers. A fan asked him if he would do a movie like Swades again, a role that was loved by one and all
Talking about his work front, SRK made a comeback after a hiatus of 4 years with Siddharth Anand’s blockbuster action-thriller Pathaan, which hit the theatres in January this year. SRK will be next seen in the upcoming action-thriller Jawan, which will be released on September 7th.
Jawan is directed by South filmmaker Atlee. Produced under SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the movie also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles.