Tuesday, 10 January 2023 | PNS | JOSHIMATH/DEHRADUN
The number of homes with cracks in Joshimath has increased along with the number of families shifted to accommodations arranged by the authorities. Two damaged hotel buildings are also to be demolished on Tuesday to prevent further damage. According to the government, as on Monday the number of buildings with cracks in Joshimath was 678 whereas a total of 81 families have now been shifted out of their homes to temporary accommodations made by the district administration. A total of 213 rooms with a 1,191 capacity have been identified for temporary accommodation in Joshimath city. In addition to this, 491 rooms/halls have been identified for temporary accommodation at Pipalkoti outside the Joshimath municipal area with a capacity to hold 2,205 persons. Meanwhile, the State government has directed that people living in the disaster affected area must shift to the government provided shelters without any further delay. At the same time, orders have been issued to start work immediately on treating the toe erosion being experienced in the city.
Meanwhile, the authorities are also providing relief kits to the affected families as per their requirements. Apart from this, a total of 63 foodgrain kits and 53 blankets were also distributed among the affected families. The authorities also conducted health checks of 50 affected persons in Joshimath. The two hotel buildings which have developed major cracks with one of the buildings also leaning now are slated to be demolished by the authorities on Tuesday to prevent further damage to the surroundings.
Earlier in the day, members of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) held a meeting with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and stressed on the need for ascertaining the root cause of the subsidence and the source of the water accumulated underground in the town.
