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Delhi Sinking Faster Than Any Other Indian Megacity, Putting Millions at Risk
4 Nov
Summary
- Delhi records highest maximum rate of land subsidence at 51.0 mm per year
- Around 1.7 million people in Delhi exposed to land subsidence
- 2,264 buildings in Delhi categorized as high risk from ongoing subsidence
According to a study published in Nature on October 28, 2025, Delhi is sinking faster than any other Indian megacity, recording the highest maximum rate of land subsidence at 51.0 mm per year. The researchers estimate that around 1.7 million people in the capital are exposed to this land subsidence, and the city currently has 2,264 buildings categorized as being at high risk.
The study has linked the land subsidence in Delhi to groundwater depletion, monsoon variability, and climate change. It states that the "primary driver of land subsidence is the compaction of alluvial deposits caused by extensive groundwater withdrawals." The researchers also note that "climate change and human actions can accelerate subsidence rates in places lacking adequate adaptation and mitigation strategies."
The paper, authored by researchers from the University of California, Virginia Tech, and the United Nations University, analyzed satellite radar observations from 2015 to 2023. It identified subsidence hotspots in the National Capital Region, with land subsidence rates of up to 28.5 mm per year in Bijwasan, 38.2 mm per year in Faridabad, and 20.7 mm per year in Ghaziabad.
