All weak buildings to be torn down in Joshimath

Teams fanned out, painting houses with a red X as the Uttarakhand government on Monday ordered all unstable structures to be demolished in Joshimath, even as more buildings developed cracks and top officials warned that every minute counts as they stepped up evacuation efforts.

At least 678 buildings, as of last count on Monday, had developed cracks, including 68 that were newly affected in the hill town, where land subsidence has threatened the lives of the 20,000-strong population.

State chief secretary SS Sandhu directed officials to vacate areas in the demarcated danger zone, and a team from the Union government carried out inspections to determine the extent and cause of the land subsidence.

“In view of the land subsidence in Joshimath, every minute is very important. People living in the affected area should be shifted to a safe place without delay. Buildings which have developed cracks and have become dilapidated should be demolished immediately so that they don’t cause any further damage,” Sandhu said.

The district administration put red crosses on more than 200 houses in the sinking town, asking the occupants to either shift to the temporary relief centres or into a rented accommodation for which each family will get assistance of ₹4,000 per month for the next six months from the state government.

Many residents appeared to be reluctant to leave their homes and belongings, while scores more were seen moving household belongings out.

“The administration has drawn a big X symbol with red paint on our house. They say it’s unsafe to live now. We have been packing our belongings to shift to a hotel where our family will stay. I spent my everything on building this house. Just tell me who is responsible for its destruction,” said Harish, identifying himself by just one name, a resident of Singh Dhar ward.

At least 27 more families were shifted to relief camps on Monday, taking the total number of displaced families to 81.

Sarita Uniyal, a resident of Manohar Bagh, was among the people whose homes were the latest to develop cracks. “Until yesterday, I thought we wouldn’t be asked to leave our house. But now we have also been told to vacate the house and take shelter in government relief camps since cracks have appeared in our house and are getting wider,” she said.

Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed for the relief and rescue efforts, while Sandhu held a meeting with officials at the state secretariat to review the situation and asked them to speed up the evacuation exercise.

A central team, with secretary of Border Management at the ministry of home affairs (MHA) visited the landslide-subsidence affected areas. Officials said that the Prime Minister’s Office is regularly monitoring the developments in Joshimath.

PK Mishra, the Prime Minister’s principal secretary who held a meeting on Sunday, stressed that the immediate priority should be the safety of people living in the affected area and said the state government should establish a clear and continuous communication channel with residents.

A team of experts from NDMA, National Institute of Disaster Management, Geological Survey of India, IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology and Central Building Research Institute will study the situation and give recommendations, the PMO said on Sunday.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the state of all the possible help. The CM, speaking to news agency ANI, said Modi was receiving regular updates on the crisis.

“We have urged everyone to work as a team and save Joshimath. Residents of 68 houses, which were deemed to be in danger of collapse, have been shifted. An area spanning 600 houses has been earmarked as a danger zone and efforts are underway to shift the residents inhabiting it. At this time, everyone needs to come together to save Joshimath,” the CM said.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear a matter connected to the land subsidence on Tuesday. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Monday asked a petitioner, who sought an urgent intervention, to mention his plea on Tuesday for listing of the matter.

The CJI refrained from assigning a date of hearing the petition filed by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati since the plea was mentioned out of turn for urgent listing.

“Mention again on Tuesday after following the due process when your matter is in the mentioning list,” justice Chandrachud told advocate Parmeshwar Nath Mishra, who appeared for the petitioner.

Saraswati filed his petition on Saturday, imploring the top court to declare the current incidents of land sliding, subsidence, land sinking, land burst and cracks in the land and properties a “national disaster”, necessitating a scheme for disaster relief and rehabilitation.

The plea sought a directive to actively support the residents of Joshimath in a time of crisis.