Sinking feeling
- Due to land subsidence at Pernote village of Ramban dist, over 50 houses have been damaged and several families uprooted
- Subsidence observed on the land which is on slope adjoining Ramban-Gool road. The vital link to Gool sub-division also snapped due to the sinking
- Geologists say the cause behind the subsidence is construction of multi-storey concrete houses without any disposal of sewerage water
- Experts say after rains and other natural factors, the soil is not able to bear the burden of buildings, due to which subsidence takes place
By Arjun Sharma
Jammu, April 29
Four days after a major land subsidence in Ramban district due to which over 50 houses were damaged and families uprooted, experts have pointed out that the cause behind the sinking has a signature of both human interference and nature.
Massive land subsidence was reported in Pernote village after which over 50 houses developed major cracks. Some structures also collapsed after major chunk of land on which they were built slipped. The subsidence was observed on the land which was on slope adjoining Ramban-Gool road. The vital link to Gool sub-division was also snapped due to the sinking.
However, geologists say that the cause behind the subsidence is likely to be irresponsible construction in the area which should have been checked by the administration. Construction of concrete houses without any disposal of sewerage water could be one of the reasons behind the sinking, they say.
Assistant Professor of Geology Department at the University of Jammu, Yudhbir Singh said that construction of concrete structures could be one of the major reasons of the land subsidence in the area. “The rock formation in the region is water sensitive which could have led to the weakening of the ground. Major reason for the tragedy seems to be human interference,” Singh said. He said that there might also be some natural reasons behind the sinking of the land.
This story was originally published in tribuneindia.com. Read the full story here.
