Shah Basit
Several houses in Kangan Ganderbal developed cracks after a land sinking incident in the central Kashmir area.
Locals from Bonibagh informed The Kashmiriyat that cracks developing in their houses last week caused panic, with residents attributing the land sinking to ongoing, uncontrolled construction work in the area.
“The area had previously experienced significant damage in 2020 when landslides destroyed a shopping complex, resulting in considerable losses. Although the administration had promised to provide land for the affected individuals, no provisions have been made to date,” said a local resident.
As residents have been relocated to safer areas by the administration, local residents have expressed frustration, attributing the land subsidence to the nearby Hyder Canal. They claim that the canal, which flows through the upper part of the town, is leaking water that is contributing to the subsidence issues.
An official confirmed to The Kashmiriyat that at least three houses have been suffered major damaged so far and the inmates have been moved to safer locations while as more houses have suffered minor damage. “We are monitoring the situation carefully and closely,” the official said.
This incident in Bonibagh is part of a broader pattern of land sinking issues in the Jammu Kashmir.
Earlier in June, at least six residential houses were damaged in a land sinking incident in the Rainawari area of Srinagar, leading to the evacuation of affected families under the orders of the Tehsildar.
In February 2024, land subsidence affected over a dozen residential houses and a mosque in Garsoo village, Doda district. The subsidence, which began with land sliding, caused widespread panic among residents along the Doda-Kishtwar stretch of National Highway-244.
Similarly, in July 2023, significant cracks appeared on the riverside road in Batengoo, Anantnag district. The cracks, which started small, rapidly widened, raising fears of a possible collapse into the Jhelum River.
In April 2023, the Halmathpora area of Kupwara saw cracks form on Tingshore hill. The subsequent land sinking damaged several tin sheds and led to concerns of a potential hill collapse, prompting many families to relocate.
A tragic situation unfolded in April 2024 in Pernote village, Ramban district, where 74 families were forced to abandon their homes and belongings, facing an uncertain future without assurances of safety.
In February 2023, residents of the Daksar neighborhood in Gool’s Dalwah area, Ramban district, also faced upheaval as they moved valuables and livestock, abandoning their ancestral homes and farmlands in preparation for a feared disaster.
Land sinking can result from natural causes such as groundwater dissolution and earthquakes, as well as human activities like groundwater extraction, mining, and urban development, which can lead to ground compaction and subsidence.