Analysis of satellite imagery from Indian and foreign sources has revealed that the extent of 'sinkage' at the Joshimath hilltop city in India's Uttarakhand was a total of 14 cm, over a total time period of 9 months.&nbsp;&nbsp;Located at a height of 6150 feet or 1875 meters, Joshimath town is a gateway to several tourist and pilgrimage destinations in the Himalayas. In recent weeks, cracks have appeared in hundreds of homes, along roads and this has prompted the administration to shift residents out of the area and offer them compensation and carry out detailed studies.

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National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a part of the Indian Space Research Organization has analysed both foreign and Indian satellite images of Joshimath and made preliminary observations about the extent of sinkage.&nbsp;A technique to measure land deformation, known as 'DInSAR' (Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar)&nbsp;was initially applied to images of Joshimath captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-I satellites. The Sentinel constellation of satellites is capable of mapping the entire global landmass on a bi-weekly basis.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-hundreds-of-residents-evacuate-indias-sinking-town-joshimath-551833">Also read |&nbsp;In pics |&nbsp;Hundreds of residents evacuate India's&nbsp;sinking town 'Joshimath'</a>

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For identifying slow subsidence (sinking), a comparison was carried out between Sentinel image data from 7th&nbsp;April 2022 and 9th&nbsp;November 2022 (7-month duration). For identifying rapid sinking, the image data from 27th&nbsp;December 2022 to 8th&nbsp;January 2023 (12-day duration) was compared. It was recorded that the subsidence was around 9 cm during the 7-month period and 5 cm during the 12-day period. It was also pointed out that the area of the sinking has also increased, but remains confined to the central part of Joshimath town.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/demolition-in-joshimath-begins-amidst-calls-for-higher-compensation-552236">Also read |&nbsp;Demolition in Joshimath begins amidst calls for higher compensation</a>

The NRSC report also mentioned that the&nbsp;Crown of the subsidence is located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2180 m. The&nbsp;identified subsidence(sinking) zone was correlated with ISRO's Cartosat satellite data acquired on 7th and 10 January 2023.&nbsp;The NRSC is also carrying out an analysis of temporal InSAR is ongoing to identify landslide kinematics and the results will be further updated. Temporal InSAR is a&nbsp;method to measure the spatial extent and magnitude of surface deformation.&nbsp;

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Analysis of satellite imagery from Indian and foreign sources has revealed that the extent of 'sinkage' at the Joshimath hilltop city in India's Uttarakhand was a total of 14 cm, over a total time period of 9 months.

Analysis of satellite imagery from Indian and foreign sources has revealed that the extent of 'sinkage' at the Joshimath hilltop city in India's Uttarakhand was a total of 14 cm, over a total time period of 9 months. Located at a height of 6150 feet or 1875 meters, Joshimath town is a gateway to several tourist and pilgrimage destinations in the Himalayas. In recent weeks, cracks have appeared in hundreds of homes, along roads and this has prompted the administration to shift residents out of the area and offer them compensation and carry out detailed studies. National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a part of the Indian Space Research Organization has analysed both foreign and Indian satellite images of Joshimath and made preliminary observations about the extent of sinkage. A technique to measure land deformation, known as 'DInSAR' (Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar) was initially applied to images of Joshimath captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-I satellites. The Sentinel constellation of satellites is capable of mapping the entire global landmass on a bi-weekly basis. Also read | In pics | Hundreds of residents evacuate India's sinking town 'Joshimath' For identifying slow subsidence (sinking), a comparison was carried out between Sentinel image data from 7th April 2022 and 9th November 2022 (7-month duration). For identifying rapid sinking, the image data from 27th December 2022 to 8th January 2023 (12-day duration) was compared. It was recorded that the subsidence was around 9 cm during the 7-month period and 5 cm during the 12-day period. It was also pointed out that the area of the sinking has also increased, but remains confined to the central part of Joshimath town. Also read | Demolition in Joshimath begins amidst calls for higher compensation The NRSC report also mentioned that the Crown of the subsidence is located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2180 m. The identified subsidence(sinking) zone was correlated with ISRO's Cartosat satellite data acquired on 7th and 10 January 2023. The NRSC is also carrying out an analysis of temporal InSAR is ongoing to identify landslide kinematics and the results will be further updated. Temporal InSAR is a method to measure the spatial extent and magnitude of surface deformation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Joshimath 'sank' 8.9 cm in 7 months, 5.4 cm in 12 days: ISRO and Foreign satellite imagery

Demolition work began in India's Himalayan town of Joshimath on Tuesday, where hundreds of structures have developed cracks following an apparent sinking of land. Authorities started pulling out dismantled window panes and belongings out of unsafe buildings on Friday.&nbsp;

Earlier, protesters had halted the demolition work demanding better compensation. Two hotels are also on the list and are being dismantled under the watch of experts and authorities.&nbsp;

People and several experts are also protesting against the power plant construction in the area, as they believe its construction is causing the land to sink.

Meanwhile, state-owned NTPC has told the power ministry that a 12-kilometer long tunnel connected to the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project has no role in the subsidence of the region as it is one kilometre away from Joshimath town and at least a kilometre below the ground.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/joshimath-and-surrounding-areas-sinking-25-inches-every-year-study-shows-551432">Joshimath and surrounding areas sinking 2.5 inches every year, study shows</a>

A head trace tunnel (HRT), which connects water intake at the dam site to the powerhouse for generation of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydro electricity project, "is not passing under Joshimath town," NTPC wrote in a letter to the Union Power Ministry after being summoned.

"The tunnel is at a horizontal distance of around 1.1 km away from the outer boundary of Joshimath town and vertically around 1.1 km below the ground level," it wrote.

"In the final stages of the demolition, only the pillars, the beams connecting the pillars, and the floor of each level will be left and the remaining structure will be demolished by then. Then we will dismantle the structure from top to bottom," said the Chief Scientist of the government-run Central Building Research Institute, D P Kanungo.

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Joshimath residents had to vacate their houses and were moved to relief camps for the demolition work to begin as several building have been deemed unsafe. Schools have been shut down in the sinking hill town, making things worse for school students.

An initial relief package of 150,000 rupees ($1,845.40) has been promised to the affected families, a top district official said on Thursday. He also informed that a larger relief package is also being prepared for people who had to leave their homes.

Joshimath, a gateway to Hindu and Sikh shrines, made headlines after reports emerged that more than 700 houses and buildings developed cracks, prompting authorities to rush around 4,000 people to safe locations.

Initial complaints on town buildings developing cracks came about 14 months ago, said a senior state government official on condition of anonymity. A committee was then formed to investigate the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Demolition work began in India's Himalayan town of Joshimath on Tuesday, where hundreds of structures have developed cracks following an apparent sinking of land.

Demolition work began in India's Himalayan town of Joshimath on Tuesday, where hundreds of structures have developed cracks following an apparent sinking of land. Authorities started pulling out dismantled window panes and belongings out of unsafe buildings on Friday. Earlier, protesters had halted the demolition work demanding better compensation. Two hotels are also on the list and are being dismantled under the watch of experts and authorities. People and several experts are also protesting against the power plant construction in the area, as they believe its construction is causing the land to sink. Meanwhile, state-owned NTPC has told the power ministry that a 12-kilometer long tunnel connected to the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project has no role in the subsidence of the region as it is one kilometre away from Joshimath town and at least a kilometre below the ground. Also Read | Joshimath and surrounding areas sinking 2.5 inches every year, study shows A head trace tunnel (HRT), which connects water intake at the dam site to the powerhouse for generation of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydro electricity project, "is not passing under Joshimath town," NTPC wrote in a letter to the Union Power Ministry after being summoned. "The tunnel is at a horizontal distance of around 1.1 km away from the outer boundary of Joshimath town and vertically around 1.1 km below the ground level," it wrote. "In the final stages of the demolition, only the pillars, the beams connecting the pillars, and the floor of each level will be left and the remaining structure will be demolished by then. Then we will dismantle the structure from top to bottom," said the Chief Scientist of the government-run Central Building Research Institute, D P Kanungo. × Joshimath residents had to vacate their houses and were moved to relief camps for the demolition work to begin as several building have been deemed unsafe. Schools have been shut down in the sinking hill town, making things worse for school students. An initial relief package of 150,000 rupees ($1,845.40) has been promised to the affected families, a top district official said on Thursday. He also informed that a larger relief package is also being prepared for people who had to leave their homes. Joshimath, a gateway to Hindu and Sikh shrines, made headlines after reports emerged that more than 700 houses and buildings developed cracks, prompting authorities to rush around 4,000 people to safe locations. Initial complaints on town buildings developing cracks came about 14 months ago, said a senior state government official on condition of anonymity. A committee was then formed to investigate the matter. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Demolition in Joshimath begins amidst calls for higher compensation

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Joshimath 'sank' 8.9 cm in 7 months, 5.4 cm in 12 days: ISRO and Foreign satellite imagery

Demolition in Joshimath begins amidst calls for higher compensation