Ramban Admin on High Alert Over Sinking Land
Jammu : Incessant rains, inclement weather conditions and flash floods that caused massive landslides in Ramban District last month have led to increase in land sinking and slipping incidents in the area, with a significant portion of land in Panchayat Tangar reportedly sliding towards the Chenab River.
Reports said that slipping and sinking of land has created fear and panic in the area.
Locals from Tangar, located 28 kilometers from Ramban near the Sawlakote Power Project said that cracks had been appearing in the area for at least a year. However, after the recent rains, land sliding has accelerated. “So far, cracks have appeared in at least 18 residential houses, one shop, and the High School Tangar in several wards of Panchayat Tangar, with the high school building declared unsafe,” they said, adding, “If the land sliding continues, more than 13 additional houses and other infrastructure in the area will be at severe risk.”
Locals added that a 2.5 to 3-kilometer stretch of the Tangar area is gradually sliding down towards the Chenab River, causing concern for nearly the entire population.
Due to the cracks, Ward No. 1, Ward No. 2, Ward No. 3, and other areas are at risk, while in Ward No. 7 (New Baas), there have been recent incidents of house collapses and fresh land sliding.
Since last night, several electric poles have collapsed due to the shifting land, causing a power outage in Ward No. 2. They also noted that land from the mountain above has slid several hundred feet downhill, and if this natural disaster continues, the ongoing land movement could spell a major catastrophe for large parts of Tangar.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Muhammad Ilyas Khan the Member of the Assembly for Ramban, Additional SP Mujeeb ur Rahman, along with district officers and engineers, visited Tangar to assess the situation and the extent of the damage.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed Tehsildar Rahmat to remain stationed in the area, while teams of Revenue Department, Police, and SDRF teams have been placed on alert in the affected areas to respond to any situation.
