Land Subsidence Evacuates Families in Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir

Three families comprising ten members faced evacuation in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday after land subsidence and cracks in residential houses were reported. This precautionary measure comes in the wake of intense rainfall affecting the region.

The incident occurred in Kulthi Chakka Kundi, located in Tehsil Rajgarh along the Chenab River. The local residents expressed panic following reports of ground instability, particularly after recent heavy rainfalls.

Officials quickly mobilized administrative, revenue, and rescue teams to the area. The teams shifted the affected families to safer locations, ensuring their immediate safety.

Rajgarh Tehsildar, Major Singh, reported that one structure belonging to Bhagat Ram collapsed entirely as cracks appeared in the homes of Chaat Ram, Chaman Lal, and Bhushan Lal due to land subsidence over the last few days.

Singh noted that he visited the area with a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team to oversee the evacuation. Temporary accommodation in the form of tents has been provided to the affected families.

Local administrative officials, including the Naib Tehsildar, remain stationed in the village to closely monitor the situation and provide assistance where necessary.

Despite the immediate action taken, local residents reported that several other houses, including properties owned by Dev Raj, Hari Ram, Santosh Singh, Fallal Singh, and Shashram, have also developed cracks and signs of damage.

BJP Ramban district president Neelam Kumar Lange visited the site and urged local authorities for compensation and rehabilitation for the displaced families. He voiced concern over the lack of ministerial presence from the National Conference-led government and called for immediate intervention to assess the damage.

Residents fear that the water releases from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, triggered by the recent rains, may have contributed to the ground instability that resulted in the land subsidence. However, officials indicated that they have yet to establish the definitive cause of the subsidence and structural damage.

Additionally, the SDRF rescued a non-local worker who was swept away with a sand-extraction boat during strong currents in the Chenab River near Pul Doda earlier on Monday. The worker was operating a machine for a private contractor engaged in sand extraction.

The SDRF teams are currently involved in efforts to retrieve the machinery from the river while assessing the ongoing risks posed to the area.