Increased water level destroying houses along Tehri Dam - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Due to an increase in the water level of the Tehri dam, cracks have erupted in many houses, while dozens have already submerged in water in Chinauli district of Uttarakhand. People living in the damaged houses are facing constant threat to their lives. "12-15 people keep going to the Tehri Dam continuously to raise our voices. PTT made a Committee to address the issue but they have not given a penny as yet. The villagers are homeless; they are living on the road. They do not have rooms to stay. The winters are approaching which will worsen the situation, but the government is in a deep slumber and pays no heed," said Ratan Singh. Forty villages along the dam are already in the danger zone. "The Bridge has submerged in water because of high water levels, causing a village with a habitation of 52,000 people to drown. Their livelihood is affected with the transportation and business too. There is paucity of food. Around 1,500 students are affected because of submersion of bridge as the alternative way amounts to a distance of 22 kilometres as compared to 500 metres before, " said Purushottam, Head of the affected villagers. Authorities, however, have another tale to tell. "Two houses in Chinauli which fall in the low-lying areas had developed cracks when the water level went high, but, now the water levels have fallen. We have their compensation files with us, which are being sent to the Rehabilitation office," said Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Collector, Uttarakashi. Experts say the situation calls for immediate steps to prevent a bigger tragedy.