Demolition of 55 unsafe Joshimath buildings begins

Dehradun: Demolition of 55 buildings declared unsafe after land subsidence in Joshimath has begun, with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) directing officials to expedite the exercise, reduce risks in affected areas and complete rehabilitation works in a transparent, time-bound manner.The progress was reviewed on Thursday during a high-level meeting chaired by NDMA members Rita Missal and Dinesh Kumar Aswal at State Emergency Operations Centre in Dehradun. The meeting assessed the status of rehabilitation and reconstruction works underway in Joshimath, challenges faced by departments and the roadmap for completing pending work.Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar informed the meeting that demolition of all 55 unsafe structures had started.

NDMA members asked officials to accelerate the process so that possible hazards to residents and nearby structures could be minimised at the earliest, while ensuring safety during demolition.The authority directed all departments to complete rehabilitation and reconstruction works within prescribed timelines without compromising quality. It also reviewed compensation being paid to affected families and instructed officials to ensure disbursal in a transparent and time-bound manner.

Missal said rehabilitation should be carried out in close consultation with the local community. “Public participation is essential for smooth implementation. Centre and NDMA stand with every affected family in Joshimath,” she said, adding that restoring livelihoods of displaced residents would remain a priority along with safe rehabilitation.