Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: More than 50 houses, four electricity towers, a receiving station, and main Ramban-Sangaldan-Gool road were damaged in Ramban district due to sinking of a road last evening.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary visited the Pernote village, about five kms from the district headquarters today morning and assured assistance to the affected families and restoration of essential services, including electricity.
Houses started developing cracks and the road connectivity between Gool and Ramban snapped Thursday evening following the sudden ‘sinking of land’ at Pernote village, forcing several families to move to safer places.
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“This is a natural disaster and being the head of the district, I take full responsibility for providing food and shelter to the affected families,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban, who was accompanied by District Development Council (DDC) chairperson, Shamshad Shan and ADC V S Charak said.
He said the authorities have summoned Geological Survey experts to know the cause behind the sinking of the land, while a team of district officials has been deployed round-the-clock to supervise the rehabilitation of the affected population and restoration of essential services. Tehsildar Ramban Deep Kumar along with his team was camping there since last evening.
“The land is still sinking and our effort is to restore essential services like the road and electricity as our first priority. We will provide tents and other items and also organise medical camps for the victims,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
The Deputy Commissioner advised people not to panic and take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives. He also directed the Tehsildar to process relief cases under SDRF and provide assistance to the affected families.
The DC further said that restoration of assential services and road connectivity, besides ensuring temporary provisions of accommodation and ration to the affected families is the priority of District Administration.
Local volunteers joined local police, SDRF and NDRF teams in helping the affected people to move their belongings from the damaged houses.
The officials said an alternate road via Sumber-Digdol has been made operational to connect Gool sub-division with the district headquarters.
Meanwhile, Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted,” I am in constant touch with the DC Ramban, Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary, regarding the relief work, following unfortunate land sliding incident at village Parnote, as a result of which over 50 houses got damaged, out of these 30 houses are completely damaged. Ten are likely to get affected. Mercifully, no loss of life is there. All necessary arrangements are being made to facilitate food, healthcare, tentage, beddings etc. About 350 people are being rehabilitated. Immediate relief provided. Long term relief is being worked out at highest level.”
It is pertinent to mention here that in February last year also, at least 16 houses were damaged and road connectivity between Gool and Ramban was snapped due to sinking of land at Duksar Dalwa village in Sangaldan area.
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