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A remote village in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, was completely destroyed by heavy rains. (Image source: IANS)
Villagers are now facing a full-blown crisis as ongoing landslides bring debris, large rocks into their homes.
Paganau, a remote village in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, was completely destroyed due to heavy rains in the early hours of Saturday.
The situation worsened significantly after heavy rainfall on Saturday, which resulted in the destruction of almost all houses in the village.
Already living in fear, villagers are now facing a full-blown crisis as recurring landslides bring rubble, boulders, and even venomous snakes and scorpions into their homes.
Since August last year, landslides and cracks have continued to occur in the area, and the situation has become increasingly serious.
The relentless onslaught of natural disasters forces affected families to flee their homes in search of safer places. Villagers expressed deep disappointment with local governments, accusing them of inaction and neglect.
Villagers say no aid has been provided yet and they fear authorities are waiting for a major disaster to take action.
“Our entire village was washed away and we suffered all night. The government did not help us. The village registrar and collector came and went; they did nothing for us.
Another villager said, “Where are we taking the cows, pets? We are taking all the belongings to the village temple and everyone is gathering there for safety. The temple does not have much space to store everyone and their items. Where do we live?
Last month, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the Uttarakhand government to submit a detailed affidavit on the action taken against the land subsidence and cracks issue in Joshimath in Chamoli district.
The area experienced severe land subsidence in early January 2023, resulting in the displacement of a large number of residents.
The NGT criticized the June report of Uttarakhand's deputy forest and environment minister, pointing out flaws in it such as lack of clarity on which agencies were responsible for geological surveys and routine monitoring. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for October 1.
In addition, last year, the Supreme Court also sought advice from the federal government to form an expert committee to assess the “carrying capacity” of the ecologically fragile Himalayan region of India.
The move comes after concerns were raised about the environmental and geological dangers posed by unregulated construction, tourism and hydroelectric projects in these sensitive areas.
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for a comprehensive study by expert agencies to understand the carrying capacity of the area. It highlights the failure of the state government to implement proper planning and regulation, which resulted in disasters and catastrophic incidents like the Kedarnath incident in 2013 and the Chamoli incident in 2021.
(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published by IANS, the associated news agency)
