New Delhi: The Joshimath sinking crisis took a turn when the administration decided to demolish damaged hotels and buildings. The owner of Malari Inn and some residents protested against the decision but finally agreed to it. The process of demolition has begun by the administration. The road with the precariously standing hotels has been closed and police and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) officials have been deployed on the demolition site.

The Army helicopter and an Army unit are on standby, in case a situation of crisis arises. Eight teams of SDRF and two teams of NDRF have been deployed at Joshimath for disaster relief operations.

Following the cracks and sinking crisis in Joshimath, as per Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha, 169 families have been relocated so far. Rs 5000 per family has been provided for general expenses to 73 families so far and Rs 1,30,000 each provided to 10 families so far as per SDRF provisions.

LIVE Updates:

# Both these hotels are four and five floor buildings.

# Malari Inn and Mount View hotels are leaning towards each other, due to which other buildings may also be at risk.