Three Families Evacuated After Land Subsidence in Ramban

Ten members from three families faced evacuation on Monday due to land subsidence and structural cracks reported in houses in Kulthi Chakka Kundi, a village in Tehsil Rajgarh, Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. Recent heavy rainfall compounded the local villagers’ fears and prompted swift administrative measures.

The subsidence occurred along the banks of the Chenab River, creating panic among the residents. Teams from the administrative, revenue, and rescue departments arrived quickly to relocate affected families to safer locations. Tehsildar Rajgarh Major Singh confirmed the situation and stated that the evacuation was a precautionary measure.

Singh mentioned that a non-residential structure belonging to a local named Bhagat Ram was washed away entirely due to the subsidence. Additionally, significant cracks formed in the houses of three other residents: Chaat Ram, Chaman Lal, and Bhushan Lal, as a result of the recent geological shifts.

In response to the crisis, Singh visited the affected area accompanied by a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team. They provided the evacuated families with tents for temporary accommodation to ensure their safety. Local officials, including the Naib Tehsildar, continue to monitor the situation closely.

Despite the immediate measures, locals reported additional cracks and damage to several other homes, including properties owned by Dev Raj, Hari Ram, Santosh Singh, Fallal Singh, and Shashram. The growing concern over stability in the region led BJP Ramban district president Neelam Kumar Lange to visit the site, where he called for compensation and rehabilitation for those affected.

Lange criticized the National Conference-led government for the lack of on-site assessment, noting the absence of a minister or MLA to gauge the extent of the damage. Local residents expressed worries that recent water releases from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, following heavy rains, may have exacerbated ground instability in the area.

Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the land subsidence and cracks, making it crucial for continuous monitoring. In a related incident, an individual who was swept away by strong currents in the Chenab River near Pul Doda on Monday morning was rescued by the SDRF. The person worked as an operator for a sand-extraction machine employed by a private company responsible for sand gathering in the area.

Efforts are currently ongoing to retrieve the machinery from the river as authorities work to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.