DEHRADUN: With the pilgrimage town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand sinking, 600 families are being shifted to safer places. Big cracks have developed in the buildings and the roads. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reached Joshimath to coordinate rescue operations.

110 families, including those living in the Vishnu Prayag Jal Vidyut Pariyojana employees' colony, have already been evacuated. Medical facilities were also made available. People are being shifted to private hotels. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State DRF teams have been deployed. A helicopter facility has also been arranged for rescue operations.

District officials said that the families who have lost their homes will be given Rs 4,000 each for six months from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Joshimath Auli Ropeway has been closed due to security reasons. Construction works related to the Char Dham All-Weather Road (Helag-Marwari Bypass) and NTPC hydroelectric project were also stopped.

Gandhinagar and Ravigram wards of the city were worst hit. According to recent figures, 603 buildings were destroyed here. The central government has formed an expert committee to study the gradual sinking of land in Joshimath.

It is assessed that the changing climatic conditions and unscientific construction of buildings are responsible for the sinking of the land in Joshimath. Joshimath is the gateway to the main Hindu and Sikh religious centres such as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib.