SRINAGAR: In the wake of alarming land subsidence in Ramban, which wreaked havoc on over 60 households, a new wave of panic has swept through the Chenani area of Udhampur. The sinking of land has triggered concerns among locals, escalating fears of potential damage and displacement.
Tandhar village, with a population exceeding 2,600 residents, finds itself at the epicenter of this growing crisis. This is not the first encounter with subsidence for Tandhar; two years ago, the village experienced a lesser magnitude event. However, recent days have seen a significant escalation, with land adjacent to a nullah witnessing severe subsidence, creating an atmosphere of dread.
Reports reveal that cracks, both minor and major, have emerged on the walls of at least three houses in Tandhar. The situation has rendered agricultural lands in Ward No. 5 unusable, as they’ve succumbed to substantial cracking, leaving locals in distress.
Banto Devi, a resident, told The Tribune newspaper that family is concerned over the safety, recalling the similar ordeal the village faced two years prior. Despite previous alerts to the administration, no significant action was taken, leaving residents feeling abandoned.
Janak Singh, another local, highlighted the expansive nature of the subsidence, affecting an area of 2.5 acres and endangering 15-20 homes. Singh’s fear is palpable, particularly for families with young children, who witness the land slipping away daily.
Responding to the crisis, the local administration swiftly formed a committee to coordinate relief efforts and potential rehabilitation for affected families. Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurdev Kumar, accompanied by Public Works Department (PWD) officials, assessed the situation firsthand. Kumar disclosed that approximately 100 kanal of land has been impacted, with 70 percent classified as forest land. While three homes have already developed cracks, evacuation plans are in place should conditions worsen.
The administration has also enlisted the expertise of the Geology and Mining Department to conduct a thorough assessment, aiming to pinpoint the root causes of the subsidence. Despite the severity of the situation, Kumar emphasized that the magnitude of this event is relatively lesser than the previous incident in Ramban.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar crisis in Pernote village, Ramban district, where numerous families were displaced due to land subsidence, and infrastructure damage was widespread. The sinking of the Ramban-Gool road underscored the gravity of the situation, triggering landslides and structural instability.
