Uttarakhand: Asia’s longest ropeway closed in Joshimath, decision taken after land subsidence
Asia’s longest ropeway service was closed for tourists in Joshimath, Uttarakhand. This decision was taken due to land subsidence at tower number 1 of the ropeway. Incidents of land subsidence and water seeping from under the ground are coming to the fore in Joshimath of Chamoli district. Because of this, people’s houses are sinking underground in many areas here. Big cracks are coming on the walls. People are in panic about this. For the last several days, people are also demonstrating in Joshimath regarding this.
People have called a bandh in protest against the land subsidence in Joshimath. Vyapar Sabha and Taxi Union have also supported this bandh. People are continuously demonstrating on the streets. In such a situation, there was a jam on the road going towards Chamoli Dehradun. Tourist vehicles also got stuck in this jam.
Cracks in houses and shops
Joshimath is considered the gate of Badrinath. The ground is sinking here for the last few days. Big cracks have appeared in 513 houses of 9 wards in Joshimath. Apart from houses, cracks have also appeared in the walls of shops and hotels. People say that due to the tunnel of the Tapovan Vishnugarh hydroelectric project to be built here, the land in Joshimath is sinking.
People demonstrated by taking out a torch procession
Hundreds of people are protesting on the road in Joshimath. People took out a torchlight procession on Wednesday night to protest against the NTPC hydropower project. People say that the flow of water seeping from under the ground has also increased. Water is coming out from place to place. There are huge cracks in the houses. People are in panic due to leakage of water in Joshimath Marwari ward. Here 35 buildings of Jaypee Company have been vacated. The water level here has doubled. Water is visible coming out from inside the ground at six to seven places.
#WATCH | Land subsidence and cracks in many houses continue in Uttarakhand's Joshimath. Cracks have appeared on 561 houses in Joshimath, and water seepage continues from underground in JP Colony, Marwadi. pic.twitter.com/vo7IxIh1Xl
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2023
Disaster may come in Joshimath – social worker
Renowned social worker of Uttarakhand, Anoop Nautiyal expressed concern in this matter. He said that if cognizance is not taken soon on the kind of situation arising in Joshimath, then a big disaster can happen.
In Joshimath, losses have increased very rapidly in the last few days. There is a need to take quick action on this. The local people there are also continuously raising their voice. This area is situated at an altitude of about six thousand feet above sea level and falls in Seismic Zone 5. That is, it is very sensitive in terms of natural calamities. Landslides have increased a lot here in the last few days.