Crisis in the Mountains: Villages Disappear as Land Sinks

In the Jammu region, nestled between the majestic Pir Panjal and Shivalik ranges, a looming crisis has surfaced as land subsidence threatens to dismantle the lives of countless villagers. Over 3,000 residents from eleven villages have been forced into evacuation as their homes and fertile lands succumb to the earth's shifting grounds.

Evident parallels with the calamity faced by Uttarakhand's Joshimath have emerged, with land sinking becoming a widespread concern. The catastrophe, often attributed to inadequate planning and ecological neglect, has left devastated villages grappling with sudden cracks in their homes and the loss of ancestral lands.

Officials, including geological experts, are now assessing the damage and formulating plans for temporary resettlement and relief. As the situation escalates, affected villagers are demanding stable relocation opportunities, fearing the persistent threat to their remaining livelihoods.

(With inputs from agencies.)