After not showing any new cracks for almost a week, cracks have started growing again in houses and structures in Joshimath, Uttarakhand. The crecometer installed in a house located in Singhdhar Ward has been moved from its place due to the widening of the cracks. Affected resident Ashish Dimri has demanded the administration to mark his house as unsafe, as cracks in its walls have increased in the last three days.
Dimri alleges that he informed the matter to the administration, who understood the situation to be normal. Scientists of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) told that cracometers have been installed in more than 60 houses of the ward, which were inspected for about 15 days.
Cracks are also increasing on the Badrinath Highway near Singhdhar Ward. After getting information about this, the administrative officials inspected the spot. As of now, there have been no other reports of an increase in cracks. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) that was deployed in the city by the Center left on 5 February.
The team was expected to stay in Joshimath till February 10 to conduct inspections and investigations in various affected areas. RAF Deputy Commandant Mukesh Kumar, who reached Joshimath with 50 personnel on February 4, had said that the team would collect data and assess the damage in the landslide-affected areas.