Cracks appear in 853-yr-old Jaisalmer fort

An earthquake measuring 5.3 on Richter scale at Mokla near Indo-Pak border on Thursday gave a blow to the 853-year-old Jaisalmer Fort, the only fort in the country with people living in it. The walls of the fort were damaged, raising concerns about the architectural marvel’s future. A Geological Survey of India (GSI) report has come up with shocking revelations, saying there is a depression in the fort near the Dhoonda Pada region. The soil of the mountain on which the fort stands is, according to GSI, 154 lakh years old and the seepage in the foundation, along with erosion and construction work inside the fort, increases load on foundation, which is harmful for the fort. The seepage makes the fort, where about 5,000 people live, susceptible to damages. A few years ago six people were killed in a wall collapse inside the fort due to seepage. The fort gained national and international recognition as the location of Satyajit Ray’s classic, ‘Sonar Kella’. Amita Baig, representative of the World Monuments Watch, an organization that calls international attention to cultural heritage that is neglected, said the seepage poses a threat to the fort’s inhabitants.