The Sinking Town: PM Addresses Sinking of Joshimath in Uttarakhand

The Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi has called for an urgent high-level meeting to address the cracks that have appeared in houses and roads in Joshimath, Uttarakhand.

This follows the evacuation of hundreds of residents due to concerns about the safety of their homes and infrastructure. Officials from the PMO will meet with local authorities to discuss potential solutions and address the concerns of the affected residents.

Experts have warned for years that construction projects, including hydropower projects, could lead to land subsidence in and around Joshimath. PK Mishra, the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will lead the meeting, which will also be attended by the cabinet secretary, other senior officials, and members of the National Disaster Management Authority. District officials and senior officials from Uttarakhand will participate through video conferencing.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, during which the Prime Minister assured the state of all necessary assistance. During a phone conversation with Chief Minister Dhami, Prime Minister Modi inquired about the situation in Joshimath and the measures being taken for the rehabilitation and safety of the affected people, according to Chief Minister Dhami.

Eleven more families were relocated to safe locations in Joshimath on Saturday, bringing the total number of evacuated families to 65, as the number of houses with cracks in the sinking town rose to 603, according to officials. Chamoli district disaster management officer N K Joshi stated that these additional 11 families were moved to temporary relief camps from houses that had developed cracks.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Joshimath on Saturday to assess the situation on the ground and also visited houses with significant cracks in the walls and ceilings. In the meantime, a seer has approached the Supreme Court requesting that the crisis in Joshimath be declared a national disaster and seeking immediate financial assistance and compensation for the affected residents of Uttarakhand.

The plea also called for the National Disaster Management Authority to actively support the residents of Joshimath. Joshimath, a popular tourist destination for visits to pilgrimage sites such as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and for skiing in Auli, is facing a major challenge due to land subsidence, with locals reporting that many houses have suffered subsidence and huge cracks have appeared in houses, roads, and fields in the town. Chief Minister Dhami has ordered the immediate evacuation of 600 families living in houses at risk.

ALSO READ: BITCOIN, THE SITUATION OF CRYPTOCURRENCY IN INDIA.