Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], January 9 (ANI): Joshimath has been declared a ‘sinking zone’ in the wake of continuing land subsidence, with several homes and roads developing cracks over the last few days, driving residents outdoors and triggering fear.

Taking stock of the prevailing situation in the popular pilgrimage site, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given instructions for monitoring all ongoing development works in the area while ensuring immediate relief and rescue of residents affected by the Joshimath landslide and subsidence.

He has also directed all possible help to the affected locals and speeding up of all development work in the area.

Meanwhile, Chamoli District Magistrate (DM) Himanshu Khurana went door to door in the affected area to assess the extent of damage, while urging residents in houses that have developed cracks to move to relief centres.

According to the Chamoli District Disaster Management Authority, 603 buildings in Joshimath town have developed cracks.

A total of 68 families have been ‘temporarily’ displaced. “Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Hotel Mount View and Malari Inn have been banned for operation and accommodation till further orders,” the Authority said in a statement. Under the Joshimath city area, 229 rooms have been temporarily identified as habitable, with capacity estimated at 1271.

The administration has also ordered an urgent evacuation of locals from areas prone to excessive landslides and deemed unsafe, after assessing the risk to life and property, under sections 33 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act. “The work of identifying places affected by landslides is in progress and the vulnerable families are being temporarily shifted to safer places,” an official said.

The ongoing construction under the NTPC’s Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project has been stopped with immediate effect, till further orders. Ho Hare Helang bypass construction work by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has also been suspended with immediate effect, till further orders.
“With immediate effect, a ban has been imposed on construction works being carried out under Joshimath Municipality, till further orders,” the Authority stated.

The district administration on Sunday distributed necessary assistance funds for essential household items to the affected families. Funds have also been distributed to 46 affected families for essential household items at the rate of Rs 5,000 per family.

While the cause of the apparent subsidence in the holy town is unclear, an Emeritus scientist at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), DM Banerjee, blamed the construction of roads and tunnels for a nearby hydroelectric project for the prevailing situation. “Joshimath is a part of the lesser Himalayas, the rocks are from the Precambrian era and the territory is of seismic zone 4. Apart from this, people should not have made houses on this land, especially not big ones with 3-4 storeys,” Banerjee told ANI on Sunday. (ANI)

Joshimath land subsidence: Basic facilities at relief camps being inspected, says DM Himanshu Khurana

Joshimath (Uttarakhand) [India], January 9 (ANI): With land subsidence continuing at Joshimath town of Uttarakhand, the district administration on Monday said basic facilities at relief camps set up for the affected people were being constantly inspected. “Basic facilities in the relief camps arranged for the affected people in Joshimath are being constantly inspected by the administration and all possible help is being extended to the affected people,” District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said.

Khurana said immediate inspection will be conducted by the administration if a need arises.

According to the Chamoli District Disaster Management Authority, 603 buildings in Joshimath town have developed cracks so far. A total of 68 families have been ‘temporarily’ displaced, officials said.
“Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Hotel Mount View and Malari Inn have been banned for operation and accommodation, until further orders,” the Chamoli District Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.

In the Joshimath city area, 229 rooms have been temporarily identified as habitable, with the capacity estimated at 1271.

The administration has also ordered an immediate evacuation of residents from areas prone to excessive landslides and deemed unsafe, after considering the risk to life and property, under sections 33 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act. “The work of identifying the places affected by landslides is in progress and the vulnerable families are being temporarily shifted to safer places,” the official said.

The ongoing construction work under the NTPC’s Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project has been stopped with immediate effect, till further orders. Ho Hare Helang bypass construction work by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has also been banned with immediate effect, till further orders.
“A ban has also been imposed on construction works being undertaken by the Joshimath Municipality, till further orders,” it stated.

The district administration on Sunday distributed necessary assistance funds for essential household items to the affected families. While the cause of the apparent subsidence in the holy town is unclear, an Emeritus scientist at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), DM Banerjee, blamed the prevailing situation on the construction of roads and tunnels for a nearby hydroelectric project.
“Joshimath is a part of the lesser Himalayas, the rocks are from the Precambrian era and the territory is of seismic zone 4. Apart from this, people should not have made houses on this land, especially not big ones with 3-4 storeys,” Banerjee told ANI on Sunday. (ANI)

Amid fears around sinking Joshimath, fresh cracks appear on some houses in Karnaprayag

Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], January 10 (ANI): Amid civilian fears in the wake of land subsidence in the Joshimath area, fresh cracks were seen on some houses in Bahuguna Nagar of Karnaprayag Municipality in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Earlier, on Monday, Sitarganj MLA Saurabh Bahuguna said that other villages near Joshimath were facing a similar situation. “Efforts are underway for rehabilitation of affected people in Joshimath. We assure the safety of the people of Joshimath. I have received calls about villages near Joshimath grappling with a similar situation. The chief minister will be briefed on the same,” the Sitarganj MLA said.

Meanwhile, authorities will start demolishing hotels and houses in Joshimath, which developed cracks in the wake of the landslide and subsidence. Hotels Malari Inn and Mount View, which have developed more cracks, will be demolished on Tuesday, officials said, adding that all residents have been safely evacuated from the ‘unsafe zones’.

The demolition of buildings will begin under the supervision of a team of experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is on standby to assist the district administration in the demolition work, as and when required.
“Experts are on the ground and the administration will take action on their directions and advice,” said the NDRF.

On Monday, District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana informed that a central team was to arrive in Chamoli district to survey the damage wrought to properties by the land subsidence and suggest a way forward while coordinating with the local administration in relief and rescue efforts. “A team from the Ministry of Home Affairs will come to Joshimath on Tuesday. Demolition of buildings will start tomorrow under the supervision of the team of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) Roorkee,” Khurana had said earlier.

On Monday, a team from the Ministry of Jal Shakti also arrived at Joshimath.
The areas where the buildings will be demolished have been vacated by the administration after they were declared ‘unsafe zones’. The officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also called on Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence on Monday and discussed relief and rescue operations.

The officials assured the chief minister of an investigation into the geographical condition of the Joshimath area and the causes of the landslide. The state administration was also assured of central in mobilising disaster relief. Meanwhile, the District Disaster Management Authority, Chamoli issued a bulletin related to disaster management in view of landslides in the Joshimath area.

According to the bulletin, cracks have been noticed in a total of 678 buildings in the Joshimath town area. In view of security, a total of 81 families have been temporarily displaced. “Under the Joshimath city area, 213 rooms have been temporarily identified as habitable, with their capacities estimated at 1191. Also, 491 rooms/halls have been identified in Pipalkoti outside the Joshimath area, with a combined capacity of 2,205,” the bulletin said.

The administration has also distributed food kits and blankets to the affected families, as per their requirements along with the distribution of funds to procure essential household items. A total of 63 food kits and 53 blankets have been made available for the affected locals. (ANI)