Villages In Jammu Hills Face Land Subsidence

Over 3,000 Forced To Leave Homes

- Press Trust Of India

People living in majestic Pir Panjal and Shivalik ranges in Jammu region built their dream homes believing the mountains would shelter them, but now they are forced to leave their villages which have started "sinking" due to land subsidence caused by heavy rains.

Eleven villages in Ramban, Reasi, Jammu, and Poonch are facing a Uttarakhand's Joshimath-like sinking crisis since September 5, as cracks have appeared in houses, fertile fields are disappearing and families are fleeing their ancestral homes in fear and uncertainty.

More than 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in these villages, officials said.

Land sinking in Ramban district’s Tangar village near the Sawalakot hydel project has damaged 22 to 25 houses anda government high school, while 140 more houses across a four-kilometre area are at risk.

"It was a bolt from the blue for us. First, we lived under fear and terror due to the threat of cloudburst, flash floods, and landslides caused by heavy rains at the end of August. This was followed by sudden cracks in our houses and subsequent damage to most homes here,” said Ravi Kumar, a resident of Tangar.

Ravi, whose family now lives ina tent fearing house collapse, said they have nowhere to stay.

"Winters are coming, and the entire area is unsafe. The village may vanish as the land keeps sinking and cracks widen daily.”