Joshimath subsidence: Uttarakhand authorities looking for land to rehabilitate affected families

After the meeting, Dhami said 65-70 per cent people in Joshimath are leading a normal life and the Char Dham Yatra will start after four months.

Responding to allegation made by some political parties that the Uttarakhand government is suppressing reports of various agencies on Joshimath, Dhami said: “People sitting at different places in the country are talking about Uttarakhand, which is not right because 65 to 70 per cent of the people living there are leading their lives normally. In nearby Auli, which is a tourist attraction, everything is going on normally. Tourists are still visiting Auli. Char Dham Yatra will start in the next four months.”

CM Dhami told mediapersons that the home minister has assured him of all assistance needed to deal with the current situation in Joshimath. He, however, said there was no talk about money. “I have shared tentative information with him. This matter will be discussed later when we will submit a full report, once it comes,” he said.

Roads and over 500 houses in Joshimath, a town en route to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, have developed cracks due to land subsidence, triggering panic and protests among the local people. It acts as a key transit point for tourists travelling to both Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib as a halt here is what most take before carrying on with their journey. The town has a number of homestays and hotels, many of which have been hit by the subsidence.