Joshimath is sinking: Situation worsens, cracks develop in over 561 houses, 600 families to be evacuated

Land is sinking in Himalayan city of Uttarakhand, Joshimath. Cracks have appeared in over 561 houses. People are in panic due to this. In a city with a population of 50,000, the days are passing easily, but the night remains a horror. There is continuous leakage of ground water. Situation is getting worse. People are forced to stay outside the house in the bitter cold. They are afraid that their house may collapse anytime.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami will visit Joshimath on Saturday to take stock of the situation here. The maximum impact is in Ravigram, Gandhinagar and Sunil ward areas of Joshimath. The city is spread over 4,677 sq km. It is surprising that this has been happening for the last 13 years.

State government will pay rent of houses for 6 months

Earlier, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting on Friday. In this, it was ordered to vacate the danger zone immediately and to build a big rehabilitation center for the affected families at a safe place. Along with this, instructions were given to immediately shift 600 families living in danger-struck houses. Those families whose houses are unfit for habitation or have been damaged, have been asked to stay in rented houses, for which they will be given Rs 4,000 per month. This amount will be provided from CM Relief Fund for 6 months.

Latest updates from Joshimath:-

Cracks have appeared in 561 houses of Joshimath. A temple collapsed in Singhdhar ward on Friday evening.

Till Friday late night, 50 families have been shifted to safer places.

The Central Government has stopped the work of NTPC Tapovan-Vishnugarh Hydro Electric Project and Helang Bypass till further orders.

A team of experts including officials from the administration and State Disaster Management has started a door-to-door survey in the affected areas in Joshimath.

Why is this happening in Joshimath, scientific aspect?

The tunneling of NTPC’s Hydel Project and the construction of Chardham All-Weather Road are being held responsible for these conditions. Debris had entered the tunnel. Now the tunnel is closed. The 16 km long tunnel of the project is passing under Joshimath. Scientists say that gas is probably forming in the tunnel, which is creating pressure upwards. This is the reason why the land is sinking.