Saravjeet Singh
Kathua,DD, The continuous slipping of hills in the hilly region of Basohli has sparked growing concern among residents. In Ward 6 of the Basohli Municipal Committee, incidents of land subsidence have put dozens of homes at serious risk. Locals say that gradual land shifts have become a common occurrence in the area, but the current situation has turned far more alarming.
According to residents, fluctuating water levels in the Ranjit Sagar Lake are weakening the soil structure, making the land unstable. As a result, many families have been forced to migrate to safer areas. However, due to limited resources, some families are still compelled to stay in the danger zone.
Local resident Champa Devi shared her distress, saying, “We’ve spent our entire lives in this house, but now we live in constant fear of it collapsing. It has become necessary to move with our children to a safer place.”
If the situation continues to worsen, several houses located near the lake may be swallowed by the water in the coming days, potentially leading to significant loss of life and property.
In response, the administration and the local MLA have assured that a team of experts will soon conduct a geological survey. A detailed report will be prepared based on their findings, which will then pave the way for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The local people have urged the government to come up with a permanent solution as soon as possible, so they are not rendered homeless in their own homeland.DD
