Rain, snow hit relief ops as Joshimath fights crisis

DEHRADUN: The season’s first snowfall and rain in various parts of Uttarakhand have intensified fears of increasing land subsidence in Joshimath town, even as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the situation and directed officials to make all arrangements for the displaced residents to tackle the cold.

At least 849 buildings in the hill town developed cracks and 867 people were displaced and shifted to temporary relief camps, as of Friday, days after the holy town in Chamoli district experienced sudden sinking, sending cracks in several houses.

After beginning the demolition of two precariously standing hotels last week, the Chamoli district administration on January 18 issued orders to bring down two residential properties in Manohar Bagh ward and on January 19, one residential property in Sunil ward. The demolition work for one of the properties in Manohar Bagh began on Thursday.

According to the MeT department, snowfall is likely to occur at places at a height of around 2,500 metres and above till January 24.

Friday, Dhami reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure that enough heaters and bonfire material are supplied to the temporary relief centres.

He also directed disaster management secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha to make a thorough assessment of the amount required for rehabilitation and other necessary arrangements for the affected residents.

“The assessment should be made keeping all the points in mind by constantly coordinating with the Chamoli district magistrate and on the basis of the suggestions of the local people. All possible arrangements should be made for the affected families,” he said.

Dhami’s orders came amid concerns that the snowfall and rain may widen the cracks in houses, further endangering the lives of the people in the town.

“There are people in more than 600 houses which have developed cracks. The snowfall could widen and deepen these cracks. The lives of these people are under threat… several houses with cracks are yet to be declared unsafe,” Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti conOn vener Atul Sati said.

“Whenever the underground water sources and drains become active after being recharged with snow, then the speed of land sliding may increase. In such a situation, houses with partial cracks and subsidence will be in serious danger,” he added.

Residents who were shifted to the relief camps said it has become difficult to reside there due to the cold and snowfall.

“With snowfall, we fear our house in Singh Dhar ward which has developed cracks may fall. It’s very difficult to live in the relief camp in this biting cold, especially with our 9-yearold son. As the electricity comes and goes, the heater is of no use,” Anjali Rawat, who is residing in a relief camp at Nagar Palika Parishad, said.

Meanwhile, the snowfall halted the demolition of the two hotels – Malari Inn and Mount View.

“We have stopped the dismantling of the hotels due to snowfall. A house in Manohar Bagh is also being dismantled. The process has also been stopped. Once the snowfall stops, we will see how to resume operations,” Harak Singh Rana, an inspector with state disaster response force (SDRF), said.

AP People walk on a snow-covered road in Joshimath on Friday.