New Delhi, April 2 -- In January 2023, over 800 houses developed cracks overnight in Joshimath, a Himalayan town in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, forcing terrified families to evacuate the hilly terrain. The ground beneath Joshimath continues to give way. An analysis of the subsidence shows that between December 2022 and December 2024, parts of Joshimath sunk by more than 30 cm. The worst-affected areas include densely packed human settlements and two national highways, with various stretches inside the municipality collapsing at alarming rates-anywhere from 5 cm to over 30 cm in just two years. Situated in the most earthquake-prone zone in the Himalayas, Joshimath stands on ancient landslide debris-a foundation prone to subsidence-yet ...