In News:

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has raised an alarm over a serious threat to the Guryul Ravine fossil site located in Khonmoh, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. The site holds immense geological significance and is facing the risk of degradation due to human activity.

About the Site

The Guryul Ravine is situated near Khonmoh in Jammu & Kashmir, close to the Dachigam National Park. Geologically, the area is part of the Vihi district. It falls within the ecologically sensitive Khonmoh Conservation Reserve.

• This fossil site is globally significant because it contains sedimentary layers that preserve evidence of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event. These geological layers date back around 260 million years and represent one of the most catastrophic periods in Earth’s biological history.
• Remarkably, the site also shows signs of what is believed to be the world’s earliest recorded tsunami, with the imprint still visible in the exposed strata.

Significance of the Permian–Triassic Extinction Event

• Also referred to as the “Great Dying,” the Permian–Triassic extinction event occurred around 251.9 million years ago. It marks a major boundary between the Permian and Triassic geological periods and also separates the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras.
• This event was the most severe extinction episode in Earth’s history. It led to the loss of nearly 90–95% of marine species and about 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. The extinction dramatically reshaped life on Earth and paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs in the subsequent Mesozoic era.

Conservation Concerns

• The GSI has warned that this invaluable geo-heritage site is under threat due to encroachment and unregulated activities. It has recommended urgent steps to protect the fossil-rich area to preserve its scientific and educational value.