According to Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana, new cracks have appeared on the Badrinath Highway as residents of Joshimath, Uttarkhand continue to experience subsidence. A team from the Central Building Research Institute has been sent to assess the situation and inspection revealed that the cracks may be caused by settlement along the highway. However, district officials stated that the cracks are not a cause for concern and will be fixed before the yearly pilgrimage to Badrinath which starts in May. The DM added that a weather warning has been issued and relief camps have been set up to provide blankets, heaters and generators due to predicted heavy rain and snow on January 24 and 25. The Public Works Department and the Border Roads Organization have been asked to stay cautious and act quickly to clear any snow-related road blockages. The Uttarakhand government has released a rescue package worth Rs 45 crore for families in Joshimath and the chief minister announced a relief program for nearly 3,000 families impacted by the state’s gradual land subsidence.
