Ramban district officials evacuated three families in Kulthi Chakka Kundi, comprising ten members, due to alarming land subsidence and cracks in residential structures on Monday. The incident unfolded in Tehsil Rajgarh, located along the banks of the Chenab River, escalating fears among locals following recent heavy rainfall in the region.
Officials reported that the disturbance led to heightened anxiety among villagers, especially given the adverse weather impacting several areas in the district.
Administrative, revenue, and rescue teams, including a unit of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), promptly arrived on-site. They facilitated the evacuation of affected families to safer locations.
Major Singh, the Tehsildar of Rajgarh, reported that one non-residential structure owned by Bhagat Ram was completely washed away. Moreover, significant cracks appeared in the residences of Chaat Ram, Chaman Lal, and Bhushan Lal due to the land subsidence observed over recent days. Local sources confirmed that multiple households, including those belonging to Dev Raj, Hari Ram, Santosh Singh, Fallal Singh, and Shashram, also sustained damage.
In response to the situation, Major Singh, accompanied by SDRF representatives, visited the affected area to oversee the evacuation process. He indicated that the displaced families received tents for temporary shelter while work continues to assess the broader implications of the subsidence.
Officials, including the Naib Tehsildar and other local authorities, remain stationed in the village to ensure ongoing monitoring and support for the impacted residents.
BJP Ramban district president Neelam Kumar Lange visited the area, voicing demands for compensation and rehabilitation for those affected. He criticized the absence of ministers or local MLAs from the National Conference-led government at the site, alleging negligent oversight of the unfolding crisis.
Local villagers expressed concerns that water releases from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, in conjunction with the heavy rainfall, may have contributed to the ground’s instability. However, officials stress that investigations are ongoing, and the precise cause of the land subsidence remains undetermined.
In an unrelated incident, the SDRF rescued a non-local worker near Pul Doda in Doda district, who had been swept away by strong currents in the Chenab River while operating a sand-extraction boat. The worker worked for a private company contracted for sand extraction in the area. Efforts to retrieve the stranded machinery from the river are currently underway.
