Panic gripped a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Monday after subsidence caused large cracks in agricultural fields, roads, and residential buildings, prompting the district administration to shift occupants of two severely damaged houses to safer locations.
Authorities on Alert
Four other houses that have developed cracks are under close observation, and their occupants will be evacuated if necessary, an official said. The Geological Survey of India has been called to assess the situation in Kotli Kalaban village of Manjakote tehsil, where relief and precautionary measures are underway.
Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, SSP Gaurav Sikarwar, and MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan visited the affected areas and assured villagers of all possible assistance.
Recurring Subsidence in Region
This is not the first subsidence event in the region. Several cases have been reported in recent years from Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Poonch, and Rajouri districts, often linked to road construction and other infrastructure projects.
On September 9 last year, about 50 structures, mostly residential buildings, were damaged due to land sinking in a village on a hill slope in Poonch district. On April 26, 2024, a massive chunk of land sank in Ramban's Parnote village, destroying 58 houses in three days and forcing around 500 residents to relocate.
Doda and Ramban districts experienced similar subsidence in 2023 and 2024, prompting authorities to form expert committees to investigate causes and recommend remedial measures. On February 4, 2023, authorities evacuated 20 families from Nayi Basti in Doda's Thathri municipality after subsidence damaged several houses.
Officials continue to monitor the situation in Rajouri and urge residents to stay alert.
