Ghulam Nabi Raises Alert Over 'Sinking' Of Land In J&K's Doda As Panic Grows Among Villagers: Top Points

New Delhi: 21 buildings in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district have developed cracks so far and nineteen families were evacuated. The number of structures affected rose from six to 21 after Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Thathri) Athar Amin Zargar said that "this area is gradually sinking".

• Former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his concern over the subsidence as he tweeted: "Sinking of land at Thatri in Doda district is a grave issue affecting dozens of families & their properties. I urge LG @manojsinha_  ji to relocate the families and provide them adequate compensation. The issue needs immediate attention on your part!"

  Sinking of land at Thatri in Doda district is a grave issue affecting dozens of families & their properties. I urge LG @manojsinha_ ji to relocate the families and provide them adequate compensation. The issue needs immediate attention on your part!

  — Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) February 3, 2023

• Meanwhile, J&K LG Manoj Sinha said that the affected houses have been evacuated. "There is no need to create hype. The government and administration are keeping an eye on the matter. Best practices will be followed with suggestions from scientists," he informed, as quoted by ANI.
  
  
• According to news agency PTI, the authorities declared unsafe a mosque and a religious school for girls at Nai Basti village in Thathri, 35 kilometres from Doda town along the Kishtwar-Batote National Highway.
  
  
• "We have shifted 19 affected families to a safer location after their houses were rendered unsafe. We are observing the situation and taking steps as per need to ensure their safety," Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Thathri) Athar Amin Zargar told PTI. The deputy commissioner and the senior superintendent of police visited the spot and assured all help to the affected families, he informed.
  
  
• On Saturday, the Doda administration and a team of scientists from the Geological Survey of India inspected the affected area in Doda, news agency ANI reported.
  
  "Situation being regularly monitored by Deputy Commissioner Doda and his senior officers. Situation is under control. The government sent a team of the Geological Survey of India and they are conducting their studies. They will submit their report to the government. People have vacated the area," SDM Athar Amin Zargar told ANI today.
  
  
• Earlier, Zargar refused to compare the situation to the land subsidence in Uttarakhand's Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib. "Comparing the situation in Nai Basti with the sinking town of Joshimath will be an exaggeration. We are faced with a problem of landslide and geologists from Chenab Valley power projects and National Highways Authority of India have already inspected the site," Zargar said, as per PTI.
  
  

• PTI reported a local resident identified as Zahida Begum, whose family was shifted to a temporary site, as saying that they lived in the village for 15 years and were surprised to notice cracks in concrete houses.

  "There is panic among 50-plus households in the village. Majority of the structures developed cracks after Thursday's landslide," she said as she demanded proper rehabilitation for the affected families.

Some families have reportedly shifted to a temporary shelter set up by the district administration and many others have returned to their ancestral homes.

"We are making all necessary arrangements, including food and electricity, at the campsite," SDM Zargar said.

Farooq Ahmad, another local resident, told PTI that 117 members of 19 families of policemen, ex-servicemen, defence personnel and labourers were relocated.

Nai Basti developed about two decades ago and there was no such problem, he said.

"We request the NGOs and philanthropists to come forward and provide assistance to the affected people," Ahmad added.

ALSO READ | Jammu & Kashmir's Doda District Is 'Gradually Sinking', Says Official As 6 Buildings Develop Cracks