70% of people in Joshimath are living normal lives: Uttarakhand CM

New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami 65-70% of people in the sinking town Joshimath are living normal lives.

"In nearby Auli, which is a tourist attraction, everything is going on normally. Tourists are still visiting Auli. The Char Dham Yatra will commence from the town in four months," he added. The CM further said people sitting in other parts of India should not comment about it and there is no need to panic.

The holy town currently has cracks on its buildings and other structures. So far, 250 families have been evacuated to safety. The number of buildings to develop cracks has risen to 849. Two temporary relief camps have been set up in Joshimath and Pipalkoti. The Joshimath relief camp has 615 rooms with a capacity of 2,190 people. The Pipalkoti relief camp has 491 rooms for 2,205 people.

CM Dhami met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him about the prevailing situation and steps taken for the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people in Joshimath. He said the Centre has assured all assistance from the current situation.

He added that decisions about the rehabilitation package will be taken after the central team visits Joshimath and submits a final report. "I have already briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi who himself is taking regular inputs. Whatever help is required, the central government is giving us," said the CM.

According to reports, the Uttarakhand government has distributed Rs 3.10 crore to 207 affected families as advance for the displacement. A piece of land belonging to the Horticulture Department has been identified for the construction of model pre-fabricated huts with one, two, and three bedrooms.