Landslide damages five houses in J&K's Ramban

RAMBAN/JAMMU: At least 13 families have been shifted to safer places after their houses were endangered/damaged due to a landslide in a remote hilly village Duksar Dal -Sangaldan in Ramban district of Jammu Region of Union Territory, officials said on Sunday.

The incident that took place in Duksar Dal village of Sangaldan in Gool Subdivision, over 45km from Ramban district headquarters after a fortnight when district administration of Ramban shifted 4-5 families from a hilly hamlet Sujmatna in Ramsoo to safer location after their residential houses became vulnerable to a possible landslide on February 6.

Earlier around 19 residential houses, a mosque, and Madarsa (a religious school for girls) developed cracks due to land sinking at Nai Basti -Thatri of Doda district on February 3.

"A total of 13 houses were declared endangered due to a landslide at Duksar Dal villlage. The affected families were shifted and provided tents, ration, utensils and blankets as an immediate relief,” sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gool Tanveer-ul-Majeed Wani said while talking to local media persons in Ramban.

A video message appearing on social media, SDM Gool Wani quoted him saying that the land started sliding on Friday, also affecting a local graveyard.

"Initially five families were evacuated however the landslides increased in the area and psed danger to remaining houses and the administration have shifted all the 13 families from the landslide prone area."

"The administration is keeping a close watch on the situation and the people are requested to maintain calm,” he said, adding, the affected families will be provided relief after assessing the damage.

SDM Gool also said the experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have been requested to study the case.

“The locals are in a panic as we have never witnessed such a thing in the past."

Reassuring the people that the administration is beside them, he said that all the cases pertaining to 'complete' damage to houses are complete with SDRF and within a week the compensation will be released.

SDM Gool Wani added that being a strategic point of view for defence the alternative route between Sangaldan- Gool Dhara- Salbala Road will be made motorable for connectivity for the area.

"We have requested to GREF authorities, to impress men and machinery to make that alternate route open for public and the defence as well."

He said agricultural land including fruit trees was also damaged and the area has been restricted for any activity till the GSI experts visits and analyse the landslides in the area.

Meanwhile, former MInister and senior Apni Party leader Aijaz Ahmed Khan has demanded rehabilitation of displaced families following the landslide in Ramban village Dalwah-Duksar in Block Sangaldan in Gool area.

He appealed to the Govt to rehabilitate the affected families and provide them adequate compensation.He said that the people have lost their shelters and should handle the situation with proper care on humanitarian ground.