India: 12 families evacuated after land sinks beneath houses in G’bal areas

Mar 18, 2014

Ganderbal, Mar 18: The authorities Tuesday evacuated around a dozen families following the sinking of land in Sumbal and Wangath areas of Kangan in this central Kashmir district.
According to reports, two residential houses in the Sumbal area developed cracks as a patch of land sunk on early Tuesday morning.
Eyewitnesses said that some of the residential houses were partially damaged creating a panic among the local residents.
Soon after the incident police and civil officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation, they said.
SHO Gund, Tariq A Khan said that one portion of two residential houses had developed cracks due to the sinking of the land , adding that all the family members from these affected families were evacuated immediately and were shifted to safer places.
Officials said that two residential houses belonging to Muhammad Ayoub Awan and Ghulam Mustafa Chichi had developed cracks in Sumbal area, while as two more residential houses in Wangath area belonging to Inzar Ahmad Awan and Ishtiyaq Ahmad Awan sons of Niyamat ullah Awan also developed cracks following the incessant rains for last several days.
However locals in Sumbal claimed that many houses in the area have developed cracks or have been partially damaged due to the sinking of land.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez along with SP Ganderbal Shahid Mehraj visited the spot.
Interacting with the members of the affected families, the DC assured the affected families of all possible help.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Sarmad Hafeez said that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure proper and early rehabilitation of the affected people.
“We have shifted almost ten families including the affected to PDC Colony Sumbal, adding that free ration under SDRF will be provided to the affected families” Hafeez said.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to provide all sorts of assistance to the affected families.
He also directed the local officers of police, revenue, health and other concerned departments to keep close watch on the situation in these areas.
Tehsildar Kangan, Naib Tehsildar Kangan Muhammad Ramzan also accompanied the Deputy Commissioner.

Source