50 houses damaged, electricity off after huge land sinking at Pernote area of Ramban

STATE TIMES NEWS

RAMBAN: Several families were forced to remain under open sky after sinking of land in Ramban district.
Taking precautionary steps, the District Administration in Ramban has shifted families to safer locations after about 50 houses developed cracks and road get damaged due to sinking of a huge chunk of land at Kakrala Morh, Parnote area of Distt Ramban last evening, officials said.
To access the situation, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chowdhary along with other senior officials also visited the spot and met with all victims, beside talked to officials working at the site.
The DC was accompanied by ADC, Varunjeet Singh Charak, Tehsildar, Deep Kumar, Tehsildar S. Harvir Singh and various concerned officers and locals.
Interacting with the families whose houses were damaged due to sinking of land, the DC assured them every possible help from district administration.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the Tehsildar to process relief cases of damaged houses on war footing under SDRF to provide assistance to victims in the shortest possible time.
The DC informed that out of the 50 houses at risk, about 30 have been damaged and affected families have been shifted to safer places besides providing tents, blankets, utensils and other essential items to them. He said experts from the Geological Survey of India will be called to visit at Pernote to ascertain the reasons behind the sinking of land.
The Deputy Commissioner said that restoration of essential services and road connectivity is the priority of District Administration besides ensuring immediate temporary provision of accommodation and ration for affected families.
Responding swiftly to the road blockage on Ramban-Gool route at Pernote, the District Administration has opened the Sumber-Digdole link road for light vehicles. This initiative ensures continued road connectivity and essential/emergency services for Sub Division, Gool, with NH-44.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the District Administration remains vigilant, with a dedicated team stationed at the site to monitor the situation closely.
It is notable that the land started sinking Thursday evening, creating a panic among the locals while electricity supply to several areas also got affected.
“On getting information, a team of Tehsildar Ramban Deep Kumar accompanied by officers from District Administration along with police, SDRF, and volunteers of Quick Response Team (QRT) rushed to the spot to restore the road connectivity and shift the families in panic to the safer locations.” DC said.
“Tilak Raj Sharma from District Hospital Ramban is deputed to Pernote today (April 25) along with ambulance (JK19-3309), to facilitate patient transportation,” said Deputy Commissioner Ramban. “For inquiries, contact Tilak Raj Sharma (Driver) at 8803165939. Order by the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ramban.”
“An Ambulance has been kept stationed on the site, men & machinery mobilised to restore the connectivity & power supply to the affected area,” DC Ramban said.
DC Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chowdhary said that about 50 houses developed cracks and road connectivity between Gool and Ramban snapped on Thursday evening following the “sinking of land” in the Union Territory’s Ramban district.
Locals demand immediate relief and rehabilitation of all victims.
Earlier on 15 February 2024, over a dozen residential houses and a mosque have developed cracks in village Gatsu in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, forcing the inhabitants to move in temporary shelters.
Prior to this on 19 February 2023, at least five residential houses were damaged due to a landslide in a remote hilly village Duksar Dal village of Sangaldan in Gool Sub Division in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district forcing authorities to shift affected families to safer locations.
On 03 February, 2023, at least nineteen families were evacuated after their homes developed cracks at Nai Basti village in Thathri of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district Here it also needs to be mentioned that a team of experts/scientists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on February 05, 2023 , visited Doda to analyse land subsidence after 19 houses developed cracks.