Joshimath areas examined amid uptick in cracks

The central team deputed by the PMO to Joshimath returned last week while deputy secretary at the PMO, Mangesh Ghildiyal, visited Joshimath on Sunday to separately inspect the situation in the region where cracks have appeared and water quality is deteriorating. There was a minor increase in the cracks which are being monitored by a team of experts, said officials.

When contacted, a home ministry spokesperson did not comment on the central team's report. The team was sent after principal secretary to PMO, PK Misra, held a high-level review and recommended a study by experts and scientists on January 8.

The first team headed by secretary, border management, DS Gangwar, visited Dehradun last week and held consultation with state officials and went to Joshimath on January 10. The officials informed the teams about the steps taken by the district authorities.


North Block officials said that after the National Disaster Management Authority's caution on the ISRO data on subsidence, they haven't been releasing the situation report by the National Emergency Response System.

The issue of sharing ISRO images was highlighted at a meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday.

The state disaster management secretary, Ranjit Kumar Sinha, on Sunday inspected the landslide affected areas in Joshimath and said that there has been an uptick in the number of cracks, but no new areas have faced damages. The secretary inspected areas including Auli Ropeway, Shankaracharya Math, JP Colony with geologists and senior officials.