Jammu Tawi, Jun 15 : At least half-a-dozen structures, including some residential houses, suffered damages following land subsidence in Kotli-Kalaban village of Manjakote area in Rajouri district, officials said on Monday.
The land sinking phenomenon has affected an area spanning nearly 2.5 kilometres over the past 48 hours, causing cracks in houses, roads and agricultural fields, the officials said.
They said Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Abhishek Sharma along with a team of officers visited the spot to examine the situation, while the Public Works Department has pressed men and machines to clear the main road which got blocked due to land sinking.
Officials said one family has been shifted to a safer location as a precautionary measure amid close monitoring of the situation as concerns persist over the possibility of further damage in the coming days.
The exact cause of the incident can only be determined after a detailed geological investigation, they said.
Locals have blamed use of heavy machinery by contractors engaged in construction of a new highway passing through the area for the ground subsidence.
The sudden land movement has triggered panic among local residents, who have urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive study and take immediate steps to safeguard lives, property and infrastructure.
