Uttarakhand government has appealed the tourists to continue to visit state and said that only Joshimath is unsafe while other tourists spots like Mussorie, Gangotri, Yamnotri and Nainital are totally safe.

“I want to request the tourists that Mussoorie is safe, and Gangotri, Yamnotri, and Nainital are safe. Only Joshimath is unsafe. Auli is safe and we are thinking about conducting winter games in Auli,” State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj appealed to tourists.

“I want the home minister to increase tourism at certain secluded places here. All scientists are at work to find a solution for Joshimath’s sinking,” the tourism minister said.

He also requested the Uttarakhand chief minister “to stop the minor blasts that are taking place in the tunnels so that cracks do not appear.”

Due to land subsidence in the Joshimath city area, over 720 buildings have been identified that developed cracks. Residents, as a part of the rehabilitation, have been moved to safer places even as geologists and experts scramble to ascertain the reasons for subsidence in the ecologically fragile region.

Joshimath, on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway (NH 7), is an overnight halt for the people visiting the holy shrines at Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and tourist destinations Auli, and the Valley of Flowers.

Along with Joshimath, the same phenomenon of land subsidence is also being reported from other areas of Uttarakhand including Uttarkashi, Tehri, Pauri and Karanprayag.Following the land subsidence in Joshimath town of Uttarakhand, Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana on Thursday said the authorities are seeking suggestions for suitable land for permanent relocation of affected families.

Looking at the current situation of the land subsidence in Joshimath, DM Khurana said, “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.

Earlier , Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and gave him detailed information about the current situation in Joshimath.

Meanwhile, after recent spell of snowfall in the region, the district administration of Joshimath has put the disaster management teams on high alert to tackle any emergency situation. The administration said that the development work of filling cracks will start again after the end of snowfall.

“Teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police are on alert if any tragedy arises due to heavy snowfall in Joshimath,” Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said.

“All preparations are being done so that people living in Shivirs do not face any problems. We are ensuring that no needy is left unattended, whether it is the need for blankets or anything,” Khurana told ANI.

“All teams of SDRF and police are alert if any emergency arises. We are waiting for the snowfall to stop, so that development work of filling cracks can start again,” he added.

Joshimath, which is facing land subsidence, in Uttarakhand received heavy snowfall on Friday.
Meanwhile, heavy snowfall was witnessed in Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand. Heavy snowfall was also witnessed in Ramvillage in the Chamoli district.

White sheet of snow covered Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand.

(Inputs from ANI)