Photo: TNIE
Srinagar: In a remote Pernote village in Raman district on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, there was a ground sinking similar to the Joshimath disaster, which had caused damage to over fifty homes as well as four electrical towers.
The road has caved in, disrupting connectivity, as a result of the alarming land subsidence that is still occurring. The horticulture and agriculture industry has suffered greatly.
To determine the reason behind the land's sinking, the authorities have dispatched geological and mining specialists to the site, the New Indian Express reported.
The people of Pernote village claim that on Thursday night, the sinking began abruptly. “I returned home around 5 pm and noticed cracks in my house. Within minutes, the cracks began developing in our house. I along with my family members rushed out. I also alerted my neighbours and all of us left the place,” said a villager.
“The cracks developed due to land sinking. It is continuing. About 55 houses have been damaged and 74 families have been affected,” ADC Ramban Varunjeet Charak told this newspaper.
According to him, damage to three 440 KV electrical towers has already occurred, and damage to a fourth is imminent. Further damages have been caused to a power receiving station. The district headquarters and the Gool subdivision are connected via an alternative route that passes through Sumber-Digdoal, according to the ADC.
The infrastructure has sustained significant damage within a kilometre radius. The local population has been evacuated by the government to a Panchayat community centre, where they are being accommodated, as the houses and other structures have become unsafe for habitation.
“We were living in a house and now we are here in a community hall. My children are very worried. I am worried about our future. The government should provide us land and compensation so that we can rebuild our houses,” said Anjali, whose house was fully damaged in the land sinking. At least 16 houses were damaged in February la
st year.