e-Journal Earth Science India: www.earthscienceindia.info Popular Issue, October, 2009 Ground Fissures in Uttar Pradesh – A review Deepak Srivastava The geological and geophysical study suggest that micro-cracks development possibly due to imperceptible neo-tectonic pulses wherein soil condition is congenial and density of micro-cracks are more and coalesce together due to sudden infiltration of surface water and causing failure of ground surface. The natural hazards are always the curse on human being and witnessed ever since the dawn of civilizations. One such lesser-known activity is the ground cracks in Uttar Pradesh which has drawn the attention of scientific community at large and Quaternary geologist in particular. Although ground fissures are not uncommon but the unprecedented occurrences of such phenomena during 2008 in several districts of Uttar Pradesh has raised alarming bell both in respect of scientific modeling and societal overtures. The several incidences of ground fissures have been reported from different parts of Uttar Pradesh for the last few years. Initially, the ground fissures were reported from parts of Gangetic plain in areas viz Chihibramau, Nawabganj, Kamlaganj and Kannauj of Farrukhabad district in June-July 1995, Baripal village of Kanpur Dehat, Malkhanpur village of Allahabad, Anegpur & Sonepur villages of Sant Ravidas Nagar during June-July 2006, from Karanda village of Ghazipur district 2006. In Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh within the confinement of quaternary sediments ground fissures again reported from 90 locations falling in the districts of Hamirpur, Etawah, Banda, Fatehpur, Chitrakoot, Kanpur Dehat, Allahabad, and Lucknow in June-July 2008. Considering the scientific importance and social responsibility, the Geological Survey of India carried out a multidisciplinary study involving quaternary geology, geomorphology, groundwater, geotechnical and geophysical studies. Bases on this observations the study suggest that all these cracks have developed in the close vicinity of major river/streams, after the first heavy rainfall of the year. The rainfall data of the previous years witnessed poor rainfall. During 2008 in the months of June-July there was heavy shower leadinging to the development of cracks. Most of the cracks are curvilinear in shape and very from a few meters up to 1 km in length, and a maximum opening of about 1m. The cracks have widened because of subsequent collapse of the edges of the walls leading to increase in their aperture The cracks have reticulate pattern and sympathetic cracks are seen on adjacent surface of the cracks. Vertical displacement was not discernible. It was also gathered from local inhabitants that no acoustic or tremors felt in the area. The terrain morphology indicates a slightly undulating and low-lying character. Silty clay is the dominant surfacial unit followed by sand. The cracks developed are of various length from 15m to 200m and 0.5 – 1.5 in depth. The major trends in Hamirpur district is along N 70º W – S 70º E with complementary branches along N 10º E – S 10º W to N 25º E – S 25º W. In district Mahoba the cracks are oriented along N 75º E – S 75º W and that of Etawah district it is along N 50º E – S 50º W. In Lucknow district, curvilinear discontinuous cracks of about 50 m length, 0.70 – 1.0m depth with a maximum aperture of 1m have developed in village Dulukhera in Kakori Tehsil and trending N 10º E – S 10º W direction and gradually turns S 70º W. The character of soil profile is silty clay followed by clay with kankar horizon. The ground water table varies from 40 to 60m. Fig.-1: Location of Ground Fissures in U.P. (incidences between June 8 – 15’ 2008) To understand the sub-surface nature of the cracks a GPR Survey was taken up. The study has indicated that on an average the cracks are shallow to very shallow depth (maximum 6m deep). To decipher the seismic inputs in resulting the cracks four MEQ station was established in Hamirpur district and the continuous monitoring seismic events carried out for two and half months during June-August 2008. The result show 3 to 4 events of small magnitude of less than 1.5m on Richter scale confined to shallow depth between 2 to 5 km. The geological and geophysical study suggest that Micro cracks development possibly due to imperceptible neo tectonic pulses wherein soil condition is congenial and density of micro cracks are more and coalesce together due to sudden infiltration of surface water and causing failure of ground surface. However, data so suggests needs further in depth studies and analysis. The general conception of heavy ground water withdrawal in the area and sudden recharge are the causes of fissure development also need careful scientific studies. The alluvial plains of U.P. has witnessed ground fissures/cracks causing concern among public, administration and scientific communities. The fissures are commonly occurring in the end phase of summer and at the onset of first rainfall of pre-monsoon period. These fissures vary from a few meters to more than a kilometer in length and are discontinuous in nature with surface opening varying from 0.15m to 1.5m in width. The depth ranges from 1m to 6m below ground level. The cracks are generally curvilinear and show a reticulate pattern at places. Predominently these are developed in Newer Alluvium Sequences and data collected so far suggest prolong draught followed by excessive rain resulting in tensional cracks. However, considering its frequency and localization of occurrence, asystematic study is warranted. The ground fissures are the cracks developed on the earth surface as a natural process. Thses are popular earth surface phenomenon showing discontinuous and broken earth surface. There are several kind of ground fissures related to geological phenomenon viz tectonic,fault related, earthquake fissures (Geng Da Yu, 2000).There are several reporting of ground fissures from different parts of the world, particularly from India, China, USA, Greece, etc. Thses fissures have resulted due to seismic as well as aseismic causes. However, the cause may be any, the development of cracks on ground has been cause of concern for for the public, planner, earth scientists etc. Hence, the scientific community at large and Quaternary geologist in particular took keen interest in studying these causes and consequences fo these cracks. Considering the scientific importance and social responsibility, Operation U.P.& Uttarakhand of Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow took initiative and carried out a multidisciplinary study involving quaternary geology, geomorphology, groundwater, geotechnical and geophysical studies of ground fissures in Hamirpur, Allahabad, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur districts. Since 1995, the ground fissures have been reported from several areas of Yamuna-Gangetic plain viz Chihibramau, Nawabganj, Kamlaganj and Kannauj of Farrukhabad, Baripal village of Kanpur Dehat, Malkhanpur village of Allahabad, Anegpur & Sonepur villages of Sant Ravidas Nagar, Karanda village of Ghazipur, Mataundh village of Banda, Jigni village of Hamirpur etc.. However, within the confinement of quaternary sediments ground fissures again reported from 90 locations falling in the districts of Hamirpur, Etawah, Banda, Fatehpur, Chitrakoot, Kanpur Dehat, Allahabad, and Lucknow in June-July 2008 (Table-1). Such a large number of incidences of these cracks within a short span of time caused panicy situations in the media, public and the planners, besides in the scientific community who engaged himself in finding the causes for the formation of these cracks. Table-1: List of localities, ground crack incidences in U.P. during 2008 District Tehsil Village Date of Occurrence Hamirpur Sarila Kupra* 09-06-08 Sarila Puraini* 09-06-08 Sarila Parcha* 09-06-08 Sarila Chandauta 17-06-08 Sarila Harsundi 20-06-08 Sarila Dhauhal Buzurg 10-06-08 Sarila Sarila 09-06-08 Maudaha Rivan* 09-06-08 Maudaha Khandeh* 09-06-08 Maudaha Karhiya 05-07-08 Maudaha Artara 16-07-08 Sadar Sikrodhi* 09-06-08 Sadar Surajpur* 09-06-08 Sadar Chaura Devi* 09-06-08 Sadar Merapur danda 09-06-08 Sadar Helapur, Chanduli tir 09-06-08 Sadar Beri 09-06-08 Sadar Gimuha Danda 09-06-08 Sadar Rithaura Dariya 09-06-08 Sadar Surauli Buzurg 12-06-08 Sadar Chandpurva 12-06-08 Sadar Ramedi Danda 16-06-08 Sadar Kharaunj 04-07-08 Mahoba Sadar Khanna* 09-06-08 Sadar Suraha 09-06-08 Charkhari Kharela June 2008 Kulpahar Shergarh June 2008 Kulapahar Rurikhurd June2008 Etawah Chakarnagar Garhi Mangat* 15-06-08 Chakarnagar Sindaus* 15-06-08 Chakarnagar Hanumantapura* 15-06-08 Chakarnagar Basaiya har* 15-06-08 Chakarnagar Vidhipur 20-06-08 Jalaun Madhogarh Rampura* 12-06-08 Madhogarh Ninwali June -July 2008 Kalpi Kalpi* 12-06-08 Kalpi Guhra Khas June -July 2008 Kalpi Baggi June -July 2008 Kalpi Nyamatpur June -July 2008 Kalpi Taribulda June -July 2008 Fatehpur Bindki Shivri June -July 2008 Bindki Khadara June -July 2008 Bindki Behta June -July 2008 Khaga Sujanpur June -July 2008 Khaga Galehara June -July 2008 Khaga Ghoshi June -July 2008 Khaga Belai June -July 2008 Kanpur Dehat Sikandara Ladpur 13-06-08 Sikandara Ghasbara 13-06-08 Sikandara Naipalpur 20-06-08 Sikandara Khalagaon 06-07-08 Bhognipur Birma 19-06-08 Banda Sadar Mataundh* 12-06-08 Raibareli Maharajganj Raghavpur 15-06-08 Maharajganj Saraiya Majare Bhawanigarh 05-07-08 Lalganj Saraila June 2008 Sadar Lodhwari June 2008 Lucknow Kakori Dullu Khera* June-July 2008 . Note : Villages marked as * Geologically studied by Geological Survey of India. FISSURE MORPHOLOGY The ground fissures in the studied area vary in size and shape. They are curvilinear and show a reticulate and branching pattern (Fig.2 & Photo-1). The cracks are of various length from 15m to 1km and 0.5 – 1.5 in depth and vary in width from a few centimeters to about a meter.