Three families, comprising ten members, were evacuated from their homes in Kulthi Chakka Kundi, Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir, following alarming reports of land subsidence and significant cracks in residential houses. This precautionary evacuation took place on Monday, as local officials heightened their focus on the area’s safety amid recent adverse weather conditions.
The landslide incident occurred in Tehsil Rajgarh, near the Chenab River, leading to widespread panic among villagers. Heavy rains over the past weeks, which have already impacted several districts, raised concerns about the stability of the ground, prompting immediate action from local authorities.
Authorities deployed administrative, revenue, and rescue teams promptly to the affected area, ensuring the safety of the families by relocating them to safer accommodations. Tehsildar Rajgarh Major Singh confirmed that one non-residential structure owned by Bhagat Ram collapsed completely due to the subsidence, while cracks formed in the homes of Chaat Ram, Chaman Lal, and Bhushan Lal.
After assessing the damage, Singh, along with a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), facilitated the transfer of the affected families and provided them with tents for temporary shelter. Local officials, including Naib Tehsildar, remain stationed in the village to monitor the situation closely and ensure the well-being of residents.
In addition to those evacuated, locals reported further damage, noting cracks in other homes belonging to Dev Raj, Hari Ram, Santosh Singh, Fallal Singh, and Shashram. The BJP Ramban district president, Neelam Kumar Lange, visited the site and advocated for compensation and rehabilitation measures for the displaced families. He criticized the absence of representation from the National Conference-led government, stressing the need for local leaders to assess and address the situation.
Residents speculated that the recent releases of water from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project might have exacerbated the ground instability in the region, contributing to the subsidence. However, officials stated that the definitive cause of the land subsidence and the associated damage will require further investigation.
In an unrelated incident, SDRF managed to rescue a person who was swept away by strong currents in the Chenab River near Pul Doda early on Monday. The individual, employed as an operator of a sand-extraction machine for a private company, had fallen victim to the hazardous conditions arising from the recent rains. Efforts are ongoing to retrieve the sand-extraction machinery from the river’s depths.
As Ramban district grapples with these critical safety concerns, the authorities remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding local residents and ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to prevent further incidents of land subsidence and property damage.
