Laking safe disposal of rain and wastewater can give rise to the problem of ground instability in the Himalayan region where most habitations are located in close proximity of old landslides.
Piping of fines
Why is Joshimath sinking
Why is Joshimath sinking all of a sudden is an obvious question that comes to the mind of people following incidences in Uttarakhand. Piping of finer material embedded in the old slide material on the valley slope by the breach of some confined aquifer and accompanying distress seems to be the logical explanation. Scientific and technical institutions investigating the causes of distress are sure to add value to this assumption.