Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 18: Following the event of sinkhole formation in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, the Administration has stated that such events are naturally occurring geomorphic processes while it is in a process of creating another diversion in consultation with the experts even as underlining that such events pose no dangers.
The officials said that technical teams each from the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar headed by Director, NIT, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, a team of Fisheries Department and a team from Geology and Mining visited the spot which conducted technical tests including using a Proton Precession Magnetometer (PPM) to understand the event.
As per the officials, a detailed study conducted by the teams revealed that a sinkhole is a naturally occurring geological event, as a result of chemical weathering of rock formation.
“At the site of the sinkhole, the underlying rock formation in the area is soluble limestone (Triassic limestone). Dissolution over long periods creates cavities in the rocks and these may cave in gradually or suddenly,” the officials said.
As per PPM studies that were carried out, officials said, the underlying cavern is about 100m long downstream and that since water has been flowing into the sinkhole continuously from its emergence, there is a possibility of a large network of underground cavities or water-holding reservoirs.
The district administration Anantnag said that the wide distribution of carbonate milts in south Kashmir is well documented and “the dissolution of these carbonate rocks can create various karstic features like swallow holes, sinkholes, conduits, shafts, caves, etc. and the same is no cause of panic and worry,” the officials said.
The administration said that such events are naturally occurring geomorphic processes. “Several sinkholes due to collapse of the roof of underground Karst caves have been reported previously and have been published in newspapers.”
It also said that a mapping of karst cavernous /cave network systems in Anantnag must be carried out to create a vulnerability profile of the district which will serve as a guiding framework for physical infrastructure development.
“Geophysical and gravity surveys have been recommended for profiling to establish the path of underground water flow and length of the cavity,” the administration said.
In the meantime, the administration has underlined that appropriate measures to fill the sinkhole and creation of another diversion is being done shortly in consultation with technical and engineering experts.
Pertinent to mention here, on February 11, a sinkhole was reported to have emerged on the Bringi Nallah at Wandevalgam in Kokemag subdivision of Anantnag district disrupting the entire flow in the stream.
Soon after that, immediate mitigation measures were initiated by the District Administration, concurrent efforts to understand the scientific cause of the event and possible resolutions were also initiated.
Follow our WhatsApp channel