Dehradun, January 30: Thousands of residents of the temple-town of Joshinath are suffering from health problems such as insomnia, hypertension and blood pressure.
The cause for these problems is the decision of the authorities to evacuate them from the placed they have been living since centuries.
“The evacuation is inevitable. The town is in danger to environmental issues. We cannot afford to leave the people there in such a condition. We understand their psychological, emotional and sentimental connections with the town but evacuation is a must,” authorities say.
Ever since the disaster struck Joshimath in the form of the entire town sinking by a few inches, the people have developed BP, hypertension and insomnia, as per the survey conducted by the Department of Health, Government of Uttarakhand.
“In fact, the number of such people is steadily increasing,” an official said.
Psychiatrist Jyothsna Naithwal said, “Ever since the disaster struck the town, the mind of the residents is shaken. They are unable to reconcile to the fact that they are being rehabilitated.
Rahul Gondwal, psychiatrist from Dehradun, said, “I have examined hundreds of people suffering from psychological problems in five camps set up outside Joshinath. Every one have similar problems – fear, anxiety, apprehension and uncertainty.”
He said,” In a disaster situation, when a person feels that his decade-old house is no longer there, memories attached to that house come rushing, with the memories come a stressful situation that turns into insomnia.”
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