'Displaced doctor' counsels Joshimath residents

DEHRADUN: Amid thousands of aggrieved and anxious Joshimath residents, who are heading towards a point of no return, is Dr Jyotsna Naithwal, who is busy responding to the call of duty and helping people battle with trauma of living in the sinking Himalayan town while her own house has been marked with a red cross and identified for demolition.

Her home is in Singdhar ward, Joshimath's worst affected area that has the most (84) houses declared in 'unsafe zone' while 139 houses have developed cracks.

Oblivious of the impending catastrophe, the 32-year-old doctor, who was born and brought up in Joshimath, had applied for leave from January 1 to 15 to get her mother's eye surgery done.

'People I grew up with in deep distress, can't abandon them'

As Joshimath fell prey to cracks and fissures before the operation, she vacated her house during this time, moved her parents to a rehab centre and resumed work five days before her leaves were over. "Ever since the Joshimath crisis aggravated, the number of residents suffering from anxiety and insomnia is constantly on the rise. How could I abandon my own people with whom I grew up, who taught me morals and values? The least I can do is help those in distress hold on to a thread of hope, and more so because I am bound by an oath," said Naithwal, a trained psychiatrist from AIIMS-Rishikesh.

It was during the Covid pandemic that Jyotsna felt the need to pursue a course in mental health. The Uttarakhand health department had got almost two dozen doctors trained in such courses and she was among those selected.

While providing mental health support to those watching their houses crumble slowly as the cracks get wider with every passing day, she experiences a plethora of emotions herself as her family members are among those in distress. "Seeing my uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and schoolmates living on their land as refugees is difficult. But I can't break down. So, every day I wake up and console myself first and then head towards the rehab centre to counsel the affected residents." Dr Naveen Dimri, another doctor on duty, said, "We all are pushing our limits in this hour of crisis. But her determination is something which is being appreciated by everyone in Joshimath, and even among the medical fraternity."

"We are pleasantly surprised to see this young girl of our town serving her people at a time when her own parents are undergoing stressful times. Just like us she has not given up yet," said Deveshwari Devi, a neighbour.


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