Three families, comprising 10 members, were evacuated as a precautionary measure following significant land subsidence and visible cracks in residential houses in Kulthi Chakka Kundi, Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident, reported on Monday, occurred alongside the banks of the Chenab River and has raised urgent concerns among local villagers, especially after recent heavy rainfall that has impacted various areas across the region.
Officials quickly mobilized administrative, revenue, and rescue teams to the affected site, ensuring the families received immediate assistance and relocation to safer locations.
Tehsildar Rajgarh, Major Singh, reported that one non-residential structure belonging to Bhagat Ram completely washed away. Cracks also appeared in the homes of Chaat Ram, Chaman Lal, and Bhushan Lal as a result of the subsidence.
Singh confirmed his visit alongside a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team, where they provided tents for temporary accommodation, ensuring the affected families’ safety and comfort while monitoring the situation.
The Naib Tehsildar and other officials remain stationed in the village to observe ongoing developments, reflecting a commitment to address the situation diligently.
Locals voiced concerns about the extent of the damage, reporting additional cracks in multiple houses belonging to residents such as Dev Raj, Hari Ram, and Santosh Singh. These revelations emphasize the widespread impact of the land subsidence.
BJP Ramban district president Neelam Kumar Lange visited the affected area and advocated for compensation and rehabilitation for the displaced families. He criticized the absence of any minister or MLA from the National Conference-led government, suggesting their lack of presence demonstrated negligence towards the plight of the affected villagers.
Residents speculated whether recent water releases from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project played a role in the ground instability. Nevertheless, officials indicated that a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact causes of the land subsidence and resulting damage remains ongoing.
In a related incident, a separate rescue operation unfolded on Monday morning, when SDRF teams saved a non-local worker and his sand-extraction boat swept away by strong currents in the Chenab River near Pul Doda in Doda district. This worker, employed by a private contractor for sand extraction, had encountered perilous conditions due to the swollen river.
Efforts are currently underway to retrieve the stranded machinery from the river, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faces by local authorities managing multiple crises in the area.