3K forced to leave homes as 11 villages face land subsidence

People living in the 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 rain.

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 and a government high school, while 140 more houses across a 4-km 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, flashfloods, and landslides caused by heavy rain 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 in a 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.”

Similarly, Anil Kumar, who had entered his new house on January 1, 2024, said they are going to leave the village and shift to a safer place as their house is unsafe due to multiple cracks in it.

“The house was built with hard-earned money after years of toil and labour. Now the dream house is lost. It can fall any time as the cracks are widening,” he said.

Sunil Kumar, an engineer from the village, said that this catastrophe, first seen in Joshimath, is now affecting several villages, including Tangar, with similar land subsidence, cracks and damage.

Ramban MLA Arjun Singh Raju, Deputy Commissioner Iliyas Khan and other officials visited the site Saturday to assess the damage.

Khan said a vast area is “sinking”, with many houses developing cracks. “Schools are closed, and displaced residents are housed in NHPC quarters. The situation is under close watch.”