Demolition begins on 55 unsafe buildings in Joshimath, India

The sight of demolition machinery has become an everyday occurrence in Joshimath (Image: Millenium Post/Team MP)

In the ancient Himalayan town of Joshimath, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, the ground is slowly sinking due to severe land subsidence.

Here, hundreds of structures have become unsafe over the past few years, forcing extensive evacuation and the removal of the affected buildings.

According to The Times of India, demolition now continues with another 55 buildings in the town being taken down, after authorities declared them structurally unsafe.

The work is part of the state’s long-term rehabilitation programme following the geotechnical crisis that first emerged in 2023, when widespread ground movement started causing extensive cracking in homes, roads and public infrastructure.

The 55 buildings have been assessed as beyond repair and pose a safety risk. Their residents have already been relocated or compensated under the programme.

The unstable ground conditions are making demolition activities here particularly risky and detailed engineering supervision is being implemented to keep workers and the public safe.

Some 20,000 people live in this tectonically unstable area where two valleys meet at an altitude of 6,151ft (1,874m).

The wider objective of the demolition programme is to reduce public safety risks and create space for future stabilisation and redevelopment measures.

Authorities continue to monitor the town, where land subsidence remains an ongoing concern.