'Sinking' Joshimath Receives Season's First Snowfall, Rain Adds To The Worries Of Residents

The Joshimath town in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, which has been making news for the unusual phenomenon of land subsidence, received the first snowfall of the season on Friday morning.

Apart from Joshimath, located at around 6,000 feet, many famous locations in the higher altitudes of Chamoli district, including Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Nanda Devi National Park, and the Valley of Flowers, also received snowfall, officials said.

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#WATCH | Joshimath in Uttarakhand receives heavy snowfall pic.twitter.com/T9h5a3jdjL

¡ª ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2023

Rudraprayag district also received snowfall, with the famed Kedarnath temple covered with snow.

More snowfall predicted in Joshimath

The snowfall in Joshimath and adjoining areas on Friday morning followed overnight rains there.

The meteorological department had predicted rain and snowfall in Joshimath, Chamoli and Pithoragarh on January 19, 20, 23 and 24.

"There is a possibility of rain on January 19 and 20, while on January 23 and 24, there is a possibility of snowfall along with rain," Bikram Singh, director of Meteorological Center Dehradun, told ANI.

Snow, rain add to the worries of residents

The snowfall and rains are adding to the worried of Joshimath residents, who have been living in fear of their houses crumbling due to land subsidence.

REUTERS

Around 849 houses in Joshimath have developed cracks over the past few weeks, with many becoming too unsafe to live in, forcing the residents to seek shelter elsewhere.

Cracks have not increased

Meanwhile, in some relief to the distressed residents, the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has said that the cracks in the buildings have not increased in the last three days.

"The crack meters installed by CBRI to measure the cracks in the buildings have indicated no increase in the width of the cracks in the last three days. This is a positive sign," said Dr Ranjit Kumar Sinha on Thursday.

REUTERS

Rehabilitating Joshimath residents

The authorities have so far shifted 259 affected families to a temporary relief centre and Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana on Thursday said the authorities are seeking suggestions for suitable land for the permanent relocation of affected people.

"We're asking for suggestions and opinions of the affected families regarding rehabilitation. We want their suggestions so that we can carry out the rehabilitation procedures better."

"Our intention is to take permanent displacement action according to the suggestions of those who are affected," Khurana said.

AFP

Earlier, the Chamoli district administration had approved the allotment of two hectares of land for the permanent settlement of the families in Pipalkoti.

Disaster Management Secretary Sinha said at least 125-130 families will be settled in the area, located 36 km from Joshimath.

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