Joshimath Declared Disaster-Prone Area Amid Increasing Land Sinking

Joshimath area of Uttarakhand has been declared disaster-prone on Monday amid increasing land subsidence, confirmed Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana.

"The Joshimath area has been declared disaster-prone. Two teams from the central government, including a team from the Jal Shakti ministry, are arriving here. Construction activities have been banned in Joshimath and nearby areas. Dry ration kits are being distributed to the affected people," the Chamoli DM said.

Khurana had earlier said that basic facilities including relief camps have been set up for the affected people. 

"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.

Cracks have appeared in hundreds of houses of Joshimath, the gateway to some renowned pilgrimage sites, including Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, and the international skiing destination Auli.

Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited sinking Joshimath on Saturday to assess the situation on the ground.         

He met the affected people and assured them of all help, officials said. 

The CM also met the team of officials and experts who have been camping in the town since Thursday and took their feedback on the evacuation exercise, they said. 

He walked through the narrow streets in the affected areas and also went inside houses in which huge cracks have appeared on the walls and ceilings. 

"Evacuating affected families in the danger zone to safe locations is the government's priority for now," Dhami told reporters.

"We are also working on a long term rehabilitation strategy," he said.