The Joshimath subsidence incident has left the whole nation shocked and perplexed. Can the cost of environmental and ecological degradation be so high? And the answer is yes; nature pays back with time. The same kind of subsidence has now been observed at a colony in Doda, where cracks have started appearing and are widening. Initially, only a few houses were affected, but the number increased overnight. The matter is quite serious, and a Geological Survey of India team has been deputed to ascertain the cause. The granulometric analysis will reveal the type of soil and rock beneath the surface. It is important to notice that there has been no heavy rainfall in the recent past to which this subsidence can be attributed. Practically, percolation intensity in weak murree can be the possible cause, and if it is, then it has to be taken seriously. The matter has to be investigated deeply, is the reason then Scientific reasoning has to be applied and conclusions are drawn. The administration took the matter lightly initially when only a few houses were affected and acted only when more houses also started developing cracks. The government school has been made a temporary safe house, which can never be a permanent solution. Some long-term planning must be devised, and affected families must be given compensation and rehabilitated at an alternative location. We cannot speculate on what has caused the subsidence; the root cause must be delineated, the sustenance of lives is crucial, and a stave-off must be assured.
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