I AM SAKTHI

Studies warned decades ago that Joshimath stands on shaky ground, but that didn’t stop construction of buildings, roads, power projects at breakneck pace Budhi Lal Joshiyal, 57, was sleeping at home in Joshimath’s Chhawani Bazaar area a few nights ago when he heard a rattling sound for 10-15 seconds. Next morning, the retired Sashastra Seema Bal soldier woke up to find the old cracks on the road outside his house had widened by at least 1-2 inches. So had the cracks in the walls of nearby buildings. While cracks started emerging in this Uttarakhand town more than two decades ago, its 25,000 residents are scared now because the cracks have been growing rapidly.