As more cracks appeared in homes, buildings, and roads in the sinking town of Joshimath, people have started leaving their homes and vacating the areas that have been marked unsafe by the authorities.


In a video shared by ANI, people can be seen getting emotional and breaking down in tears as they leave their homes that have been affected by landslides and subsidence.








"This is my maternal home. I got married at the age of 19. My mother is 80 years old and I have an elder brother. We built this home by working hard and making an earning. We lived here for 60 years but it is all ending now," Bindu, one of the residents in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath, told ANI.

 

On the other hand, angry locals have come out to the streets protesting against the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) related construction works, ANI reported.




The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined an urgent hearing on the Joshimath land subsidence issue saying that everything important need not come to the apex court.


The court posted the matter for hearing on January 16.


Meanwhile, the demolition of hotels and buildings in Joshimath will begin today, informed district authorities. Hotels Malari Inn and Mount View, which have developed more cracks, will be demolished today, reported ANI citing officials. The report added that all residents have been safely evacuated from the ‘unsafe zones’.  


Chamoli DM informed ANI, "Buildings marked under unsafe zone have been vacated and buffer zone in its vicinity is also being vacated. Today a team from Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee will come here and they will identify the buildings which need to be demolished and under their guidance, further action will be taken."


A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has also been put on standby to assist the district administration in the demolition work. 


“Experts are on the ground and the administration will take action on their directions and advice,” said the NDRF, reported ANI.