Srinagar May 1: The mountainous Chenab Valley of Jammu region has become a hotspot for land sinking, with around six incidents occurring over the last one year.
These incidents are primarily attributed to construction activities such as roads, tunnels, and hydroelectric projects in areas like Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar districts besides earthquakes which hit these areas.
In the radius of around 120 kilometres in parts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Chenab valley has witnessed frequent incidents of land sinking.
The affected families have been relocated to a government building of Community Hall where they are being provided meals and blankets by the authorities. A health camp has been set up to address the healthcare needs of the displaced.
Javeed Ahmad, a 30-year-old youth of Gool, said the land in the area has weakened since the construction of tunnels being constructed for railways and for national highways.
“There has been blasting of mountains to open tunnels resulting in the land in the area being weakened. The blasting has also created cracks in our houses. Although tunnels are necessary, the authorities should have taken precautionary measures to ensure there is no land sinking,” he said.
Similarly in March 2024 in Halla area of Ramban, around 40 villages suffered damages after land sinking occurred in the area.
“The Ramban has become a disaster zone. We live under constant fear as land sinking incidents could take place any time,” said Ramesh Chowdhary, a resident of Ramban.
In Doda area, there have been several incidents when cracks developed in houses of people due to land sinking.
The Chenab valley also falls in Zone IV of the Seismic zone. “The Doda and Kishtwar witness frequent earthquakes resulting in the area becoming fragile,” he added.
Over the last five years, over 150 earthquakes hit Chenab valley, mostly with a magnitude of 3.5.
