Watch: Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt visits sinking Joshimath
People from Mana, which is the last Indian village on the India-China border, also visited Joshimath on Wednesday in solidarity with the town’s people. “We are people of snow. How will we live in the plains? We can’t live anywhere else. The government needs to come up with a permanent solution to save our town,” said Pitambar Singh Molpha, pradhan of Mana village, around 4.5km ahead of Badrinath. Many people from Mana migrate to Joshimath during winter and spend around six months in the town.
Even though residents are being assured of shelter and food by the district administration, most people, especially those who were born here, are not convinced. “It’s not a question of money or compensation. We’ll be uprooted forever from our land,” said Narayani Devi, one of the hundreds of women participating in the protest.
Watch Joshimath land subsidence: Hotel owner’s family demands compensation