It may be noted that Joshimath, known as the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, is facing a major challenge due to land subsidence. In Joshimath, the ground is slowly sinking and huge cracks are appearing in houses, roads and fields. Local people said that many houses have caved in. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered immediate evacuation of 600 families living in at-risk houses to safer places.

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