On Friday, an urgent meeting was called by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister ordering an immediate evacuation of around 600 families from houses that have developed huge cracks and are at risk of sinking in Joshimnath, a town in the state’s Chamoli district.
The State Government has dispatched a team to the area to evaluate the situation. Teams from the NDRF, including geologists, building specialists, IITs, and other experts, have also been stationed in the areas as a precaution.
A ground inspection will be conducted today of the land-subsidence affected area in Joshimnath by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami.
CM Dhami will meet the affected families and hold a meeting with the officials deployed in relief work.
जोशीमठ में हो रहे भू-धसाव के दृष्टिगत वहां के नागरिकों की सुरक्षा हमारी सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता है, जिसके लिए SDRF, NDRF, आपदा प्रबंधन एवं जिला प्रशासन की टीम राहत एवं बचाव कार्य में पूरी तत्परता से जुटी हुई है। pic.twitter.com/iVaBdPn326
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) January 6, 2023
The top developments are:
- The affected families are being shifted from the affected location to a safer one. Additionally, the CM told the media that saving lives of the people is the first priority.
- Meeting will be conducted with the affected people and officials on Saturday by the CM.
- A temple collapsed on Friday evening at Joshimnath Singdhar ward, forcing the residents to live in constant fear of a major disaster. However, there was no one inside the temple when it collapsed, as it had been abandoned after developing large cracks over the past 15 days.
- Near about 50 families have been moved to a safer place, and other 60 living in a colony meant for Vishnu Prayg Jal Vidyut Pariyojana employees have been shifted elsewhere, the director told the media.
- Meanwhile, all the construction activities related to megaprojects like the Chardham all-weather road and the Hydel project of NTPC have been stopped until further orders on the demands of the residents.
- The protest was continued by the residents on Friday and they even staged a dharna at the tehsil office, demanding rehabilitation.
- The highest ranking police officers and state officials have been ordered to make sure that helicopters are available for airlifting the afflicted protesters for short-term rehabilitation and long-term remedies.
- From the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the government has promised to pay each affected family Rs 4,000 in rent over the course of the next six months.
- At least 40 families have left their homes and moved into makeshift camps.
- The locals have blamed climate change and constant infrastructure developments.