Land subsidence damages homes, school in J-K's Poonch

At least two houses and a school building were completely damaged, and more than six other homes developed cracks, after severe land subsidence struck a remote mountain village in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said Sunday.

The land in Saroti Jabran village reportedly began sinking following heavy rains on July 22. Officials said the situation has worsened over the past 11 days, forcing several families to abandon their homes as large cracks continued to widen across the affected area.

Tehsildar Mendhar Rahul Basotra confirmed the damage in the village and said more than a dozen houses remained under threat as the ground continued to show signs of instability. Basotra said he, along with field staff, was in touch with the affected families and monitoring the situation, adding that a detailed assessment of the damage was underway.

Residents said at least five residential houses and two school buildings had already been destroyed, with several other homes suffering cracks that prompted inhabitants to move to safer locations.

Syed Zulfkar Hussain Shah, a local resident, said the subsidence had also severely damaged essential infrastructure, disrupting drinking water supply and electricity after pipelines, power lines and poles were damaged. He appealed for an urgent geological assessment and engineering intervention to divert accumulating water, which locals believe is triggering the land movement. Shah warned that a shrine, a graveyard and another residential settlement located downhill were also at risk if the subsidence continues.

Another resident alleged that despite the worsening crisis, no senior government officials had visited the remote village. "Families have removed their belongings from their houses but have not even been provided tents to spend the night," the resident claimed.

Affected villagers have appealed to the deputy commissioner to immediately relocate vulnerable families to safer locations, provide temporary shelter and relief, restore basic services, and ensure adequate compensation and rehabilitation.

(With inputs from PTI)