In Uttarakhand, about a 1.5-kilometer landslide-affected area of Joshimath town has been declared as a disaster-prone area. Construction activities have been banned in this town and its surrounding areas.
After the series of landslides and cracks in the houses intensified in Joshimath, on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a team of experts was formed under the chairmanship of Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Ranjeet Sinha to re-study the situation in Joshimath.
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.
The administration has also ordered an immediate evacuation of residents from areas prone to excessive landslides and deemed unsafe.
In the Joshimath city area, 229 rooms have been temporarily identified as habitable, with the capacity estimated at 1271.
The work of identifying the places affected by landslides is in progress and the vulnerable families are being temporarily shifted to safer places, officials said.
Dr. Sinha told that from Sunil Ward located on Auli Road in Joshimath to Ravigram, Manoharlal Bagh, Singhdwar, JP Colony, AT Nala and Alaknanda river, about one and a half kilometer part of the crescent shape is affected. This is about 40 percent of the city and has been declared a disaster zone.
