New Delhi: The eight-member committee formed to investigate the Joshimath land subsidence submitted its report, citing the reason behind the ground sinking, to the government on Sunday.
According to the panel report, people in the affected regions have to be evacuated immediately and the damaged buildings should be demolished and the debris cleared from the spot as early as possible.
Here are the key points from the panel report:
- Ground samples collected from JP Colony area earlier resulting in hollow space in the ground, that has led to land subsidence. The report also mentions that some of the cracks were one metre deep.
- The land is uneven at some place in the hill town due to which the foundation of the buildings is not strong. This is another reason behind the cracks developing in the ground.
- As compared to August 2022, new cracks have been found in Manoharbagh, Singhdhar and Marwari areas.
- The committee members also visited the Vishnugadh NTPC hydro project to find out if it has any role behind the land subsidence.
- The panel members also found erosion in the Alokananda river bank that has led to land sinking.
- The panel report also mentions that soil testing of the affected areas should be done and real-time investigation of the matter should be conducted.
- The panel also said people from the affected areas should be shifted to safer locations and the buildings with cracks should be demolished and their debris removed at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) Secretary of Border Management will be visiting the hill state to inspect the situation in Joshimath on Monday.
These decisions were made during a high-level review meeting on the Joshimath situation conducted today by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra.
The situation will be investigated and recommendations will be made by the National Institute of Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Authority, Geological Survey of India, IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology, and Central Building Research Institute.
