Expert panel to prepare report on land cracking in Idukki

Idukki: After a season of landslides and floods, the district is now faced with the threat of land cracking and caving in. Cracks on roads and incidents of huge houses caving in were reported from various parts of the district in the past few days. Similar incidents were reported from areas including Adimali, Senapathi panchayat, and Vazhvara Nirmala City in Kattappana.

Research teams and scientists from the Geological Survey of India's mining and geology section in Idukki; Kerala Agricultural University (KAU); and the US Science Foundation’s Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance visited the district and conducted studies. They will prepare a detailed report soon.

According to B Ajayakumar, a geologist from Idukki, such developments was the result of the soil’s ability to absorb water. The excess rain led to the formation of new paths for the water to flow out, causing widespread damage.

Indicating the looming drought, water level in the rivers had fallen drastically after the shutters of various dams across the district were closed.