Kulgam: At least 35 families are rendered homeless after their residential houses developed cracks due to land subsidence at Gujarpora area of Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Locals said that 35 families have been dispossessed by the freak natural calamity that hit this hilly area. “All these families have either putting up in temporary shelters or with their relatives in absence of any help from the administration,” they said.
Officials from Revenue department identified the affected house owners as Mohammad Ramzan Zargar, Noor Hassan Godsey, Sara Begum, Shabir Hajam, Abdul Ganie, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Iqbal, Abdul Ahad and Mohammed Yousuf. The names of othet affected owners couldn’t be ascertained.
He said that the double storey houses of Mohammad Ramzan Zargar, have suffered massive cracks and now are residing in a tent house as a temporary shelter. “We asked them to hire house on rent which will be paid by the administration but they couldn’t accept,” he said.
“In the morning, we heard some cracking sounds of falling trees and felt a tremor as land started sinking, creating panic among the residents. Initially, it seemed an earthquake, but, later it came to fore that the land sliding has taken place due to which residential houses have developed cracks,” Ishfaq Ahmad, a local said.
The affected families have demanded immediate rehabilitation and arrangement of alternative land for them.
Meanwhile, Tehsildar Damhal Hanjipora Neyaz Ahmad Bhat said that he along with a team of officers has visited the area.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kulgam, Shabir Ahmad confirmed the incident and said, “The officers have been directed to compile a report immediately about the reasons behind the land erosion and submit it to Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office,” he added.
“The report is being compiled in this regard and further course to deal with the situation will be decided accordingly,” he said
