WAIKUTARAN DEPRESSION

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

One of the largest closed depressions (note 1) of the Indian Subcontinent (note 2) lies north of the villages of Chibak (note 3) and west of Kulang (Kelang, Nongkulang). SITUATION: GODWIN AUSTEN (1869b: 21) placed the sink at a certain cliff at Kutabram (note 4) and described the loaction: The valley of the Shibak [Chibak, Sibak, Rongsibak] was for a long time a very great puzzle. In no direction could I see any likely depression in the forest-clad heights about, where the united streams of Shibak (the Waik [note 5] from under and north of Yindku, and the Umpernon and others) might find their way to the plains. The conspicuous cliff of Kuta Bram [note 6] was the only open point in the neighbourhood, and it was by visiting this, I determined the existence of a very anomalous physical feature, on a really grand scale and one which, though familiar with the like topographical feature on a small scale, as seen near Cherra Poonjee [i.e. Cherrapunjee, –>Sohra], fairly surprised me. The caus is simple enough, the united streams all meet in the nummulitic limestone, that here extends quite across the main valley; the streams drain away under it, over the surface of the harder sandstone on which it rests. This water must percolate under the Kuta Bram ridge into the Rugsir [stream], but the greater quantity evidently finds its way into the Gabir [river], at Bagholi [–>Bagli Resurgences], there a large stream without an equivalent drainage area. The ascent to Kuta Bram cliff is through a forest of enormous trees in the bottom of the valley, passing into bamboo near the crest of the ridge, that rises quite 350 feet [107 m] on the south. CAVE POTENTIAL - Prospects: So far, no obvious entrance to the underground drainage system is known but parts of it: –>Bagli Gop (resurgence), –>Bagli Resurgence 1, –>Bagli Resurgence 2, –>Daniang Kol (sink), –>Dewban Chiring (sink), –>Gaiman Chiring (sink), –>Goldanggad (sink), –>Khajera Bagli (also: Bagli Pot), –>Kubal Rongkol (sink), –>Kutaram Sink, –>Meeo Rongkol (sink), Krem –>Rangbyriong, Krem –>Rangshugniang, –>Rongbaljong Rongkol (sink), , Krem –>Rongdangniang, Krem –>Umsynnah, Krem –>Wah Shibong, and –>Wanok Chiring (sink). A favourable but entirely unchecked area is the 2.5 km long and north-south running gorge shown (without name, near N25°12'40- to N25°14': E091°02') on Survey of India sheet 78-O/4 (1912). is simple enough, the united streams all meet in the nummulitic limestone, that here extends quite across the main valley; the streams drain away under it, over the surface of the harder sandstone on which it rests. This water must percolate under the Kuta Bram ridge into the Rugsir [stream], but the greater quantity evidently finds its way into the Gabir [river], at Bagholi [–>Bagli Resurgences], there a large stream without an equivalent drainage area. The ascent to Kuta Bram cliff is through a forest of enormous trees in the bottom of the valley, passing into bamboo near the crest of the ridge, that rises quite 350 feet [107 m] on the south. CAVE POTENTIAL - Prospects: So far, no obvious entrance to the underground drainage system is known but parts of it: –>Bagli Gop (resurgence), –>Bagli Resurgence 1, –>Bagli Resurgence 2, –>Daniang Kol (sink), –>Dewban Chiring (sink), –>Gaiman Chiring (sink), –>Goldanggad (sink), –>Khajera Bagli (also: Bagli Pot), –>Kubal Rongkol (sink), –>Kutaram Sink, –>Meeo Rongkol (sink), Krem –>Rangbyriong, Krem –>Rangshugniang, –>Rongbaljong Rongkol (sink), , Krem –>Rongdangniang, Krem –>Umsynnah, Krem –>Wah Shibong, and –>Wanok Chiring (sink). A favourable but entirely unchecked area is the 2.5 km long and north-south running gorge shown (without name, near N25°12'40- to N25°14': E091°02') on Survey of India sheet 78-O/4 (1912).