In a poignant revisit to Krishnagram, a sinking zone in the Teesta Bazar, the devastation wrought by the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) remains starkly evident. Documented by Junkeri Studio in collaboration with SaveTheHills, this photo feature highlights the ongoing crisis faced by the residents of this beleaguered area.
Bhasuwa Renamed Krishnagram: A Submerging Reality
Coordinates: 27°03’41.7″N, 88°25’29.2″E, Elevation 248m
Formerly known as Bhasuwa, Krishnagram has experienced a dramatic increase in subsidence since the GLOF raised the Teesta river levels by 4-5 meters. The river now flows perilously close, exacerbating erosion and ground instability.
Desperation Amidst Destruction
Ganga Sarki’s Plight
Mrs. Ganga Sarki, 55, and her paralyzed elder brother face a dire situation. Their home is crumbling around them, leaving them with a numbing sense of desperation and nowhere to go.
Frightening Nights
Another resident stands in her home, which is rapidly being destroyed as part of the hill slides into the Teesta river. The nights are filled with terrifying sounds of widening cracks and nails coming loose from wooden beams.
Forced Evacuations
Villagers are seen evacuating to safer areas, carrying whatever movable property they can salvage. Around 15 homes in the village directly above the road at Krishnagram are affected.
The Community Hall: From Refuge to Ruin
Exterior of the Community Hall
The hall, used as a relief center during the GLOF disaster, now stands buckled and destroyed, a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis
Inside the hall, which hosted nine families during and after the GLOF, the damage from ground subsidence is severe.
Testimony of a Resident
A resident recalls the severe cracks that appeared during the GLOF disaster, which have only worsened with the monsoon rains.
Infrastructure Collapse
Darjeeling-Kalimpong Road
The road at Krishnagram has suffered significant damage, with parts severely depressed and slumping. The instability forced road closures on the afternoon of July 22, 2024.
A newly identified unstable spot near the Teesta police station has emerged due to elevated river levels, posing further risks to road stability.