Joshimath: Demolition of damaged hotels, houses begins today

Joshimath officials said on Tuesday that they have begun dismantling hotels and buildings in the holy town, which developed fractures as a result of the landslide and subsidence.

Hotels Malari Inn and Mount View, which have developed further cracks, will be razed on Tuesday, authorities said, adding that all inhabitants have been safely evacuated from the ‘unsafe zones’. Building destruction will commence under the supervision of a team of specialists from Roorkee’s Central Building Research Institute (CBRI).

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) crew is on ready to help the district government with demolition operations if needed.

“Experts are on the ground, and the government will act on their recommendations and directives,” the NDRF stated.

“These hotels will be demolished for the protection of the 15-20 families that remain. Our homes were demolished ” confirmed Local Manmohan Singh Rawat.

Earlier on Monday, District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said that a central team will come in Chamoli district to assess the damage caused by soil subsidence and recommend a course of action while coordinating relief and rescue operations with the local administration.