Uttarkashi Varunavat Mountain Landslide : The landslide that occurred on the Varunavat mountain in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand 21 years ago is once again scaring people. The city of Uttarkashi, located at an altitude of about 1,150 meters above sea level, is situated in the foothills of the Varunavat mountain. In the year 2003, landslides from Varunavat kept happening here for about a month. Due to this, 365 families had to be shifted.

In 2007, it was treated at a cost of about Rs 70 crore. After this, there was no movement on the mountain for a long time, but for the last 10 years, landslides have been occurring from different parts of it. The landslide near Gofiara in the eastern part of the mountain on the night of 27 August last month again increased the concern of the local residents and the administration.

Arrangements were made for people to stay in safe places 

Along with continuous monitoring of the landslide area, the district administration has made arrangements for people to stay in safe places in dangerous buildings. For this, the District Magistrate has issued orders to acquire five rooms each of Dandi Ashram Uttarkashi and Kali Kamli Dharamshala Uttarkashi to make arrangements for the affected families of the area to stay in safe places. Instructions have been given to the Public Works Department for immediate works in the affected area. Along with this, the geologist of the District Task Force has also been directed to cooperate in the survey of THDC. 

Landslides have been occurring in Uttarkashi for a week 

Landslides have been occurring intermittently in the area for the past one week. On the night of 27 August, a massive landslide occurred from the hill in the eastern region of Varunavat, which caused panic in the surrounding area including Gofiara Colony. At that time, more than a dozen two-wheelers and four-wheelers of the local people standing on the roads in Gangotri National Highway and Gofiara Colony were buried under the stones and debris that fell from the hill in large quantities.

More than 100 families were shifted to another place 

In view of the danger, the administration immediately removed more than 100 families from the affected area. Some families were shifted to Kali Kamli Dharamshala, while some took shelter at relatives' place. Due to this incident, people in Gofiara Colony, Jal Sansthan Colony and Masjid Mohalla could not sleep the whole night. After this, light landslides continued here. The state government is now trying to start work on a war footing to stop this landslide soon. Work is likely to start as soon as the rain subsides.