In an eerie similarity with that of Joshimath, nearly seven houses in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district have developed cracks. According to media reports, government authorities are trying to find a solution to prevent land subsidence and sinking.
Residents of the Basti locality of Thathri town of Doda district have moved to live with their neighbours or relatives. Following this, a team of geologists and senior district officials have visited the spot to ascertain the reasons behind the cracks, reports India Today.
“Cracks were reported in a house in December in the Doda district. Till yesterday, six buildings had cracks, but now these cracks have started to increase. This area is gradually sinking. The government is trying to find a solution as soon as possible," Athar Amin Zargar, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Doda, said.
On January 29, a non-political civil society initiative in Jammu and Kashmir asked the government to put in place preventive strategies and schemes against the sinking and subsidence of lands in the Union Territory.
In a Memorandum addressed to the Chief Secretary, Dr A K Mehta, the “Group of Concerned Citizens" (GCC) J&K, has highlighted rising risks of land sinking and subsidence in different parts of the UT, “in the wake of spurt in cuttings and excavations in mountainous terrains, in connection with railway, highway, expressway and PMGSY projects", according to a report by News18.
