Land subsidence in Ramban, three families evacuated

Three families comprising 10 people were evacuated from Kulthi Chakka Kundi village in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir, after land subsidence and cracks appeared in their houses along the Chenab River. A non-residential structure was washed away, and cracks developed in three other homes over the past few days, officials said on Monday. The affected families were moved to safer locations and provided tents for temporary shelter by the administration and SDRF.

Tehsildar Rajgarh Major Singh said an SDRF team visited and shifted the families, while Naib Tehsildar and other officials are monitoring the situation. Locals reported additional damage to five more houses, and residents suspect recent water releases from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project after heavy rains may have contributed to ground instability. Officials said the exact cause is yet to be established. Separately, a sand-extraction boat operator swept away in the Chenab near Doda was rescued by SDRF.