Houses are sinking, mosques are developing major cracks in the Nayi Basti area of Doda’s Tathri which has spread panic among local residents, who have made a fervent appeal to the Government of India to stop the constant digging of the mountains.
The local residents have been migrating from the area leaving their decades-old houses behind after at least seven houses (when this report was filed) were damaged due to the cracks that developed in these houses. At least six families have migrated from the area, however, more houses have already started developing cracks.
Speaking to the media they said that for the past several decades the Nayi Basti has been a residential area located at a foothill in the Chenab valley district, however, for the past few weeks there has been unabated mining going on in the area. “The constant digging for a road, which actually is a mountain, has led to the sinking of the whole area, The whole area is living on the edge,” a local said.
Locals said that they have appealed to the officials several times to stop the unabated mining, however, nobody has paid attention to our demands. “We are sure when we die, all officials will tweet to express condolences with us,” he said.
The locals said that the unabated digging has created fears among the local population and many have already fled the Nayi Basti area, a claim the district administration is verifying
The admin said it has deputed a team of geologists and senior officials from the district administration who are monitoring the spot and ascertaining the reason for the cracks.
The Sub Divisional Magistrate, however, accepted that the area was sinking. “The area is gradually sinking and the government is trying to find a solution to avert the crisis as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ababeel, humanitarian aid group based in Chenab valley has launched massive rescue operations to help the endangered families shift to nearby safer locations.
Syed Imran , who is a volunteer with Ababeel told The Kashmiriyat that so far 21 endangered families have been shifted to safer locations. “The list issued by SDM Thathri of 21 people have been moved to safer locations,” he said.
This is a breaking news. The Kashmiriyat will updated a detailed story.