Joshimath: Fresh water discharge sparks Joshimath fears | India News

DEHRADUN: Heavy water discharge was reported on the Narsingh temple bypass road, below subsidence-hit Joshimath town’s main market on Sunday morning, with muddy water seen spouting down the hillside.
Panic-stricken residents flocked to the spot fearing the worst, since the last time such a discharge was noticed was on January 2, when an aquifer inside the Jaypee company colony in Marwari municipal ward had burst. The water outflow from the aquifer, which peaked at over 500 litre per minute (LPM), had continued for weeks, aggravating the land subsidence in the town and forcing over 250 families to leave their houses and move to shelter homes.

Meanwhile, district officials claimed that the water discharge may have been a Jal Sansthan pipe that had burst, adding that the matter is being investigated by the officials of the sansthan.
Speaking to TOI, Kum Kum Joshi, SDM Joshimath, said, “I visited the place from where the water discharge was reported. Later, it was found that the water was coming from the Jal Sansthan water tank which is situated right above it. The water flow stopped within two hours. If it was an aquifer burst, the flow would not have stopped so soon.” Joshi said, “senior officials have been informed about the development and a thorough geological investigation has been sought to establish the real reason behind the water discharge.”

Meanwhile, convenor of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Atul Sati, said, “The water discharge has caused soil erosion in the nearby area and might pose danger to residents in the vicinity. The government must publicise the detailed study report carried out by scientific institutions in January.”