Jammu Land Subsidence Leaves Families Homeless, Survivors Seek Urgent Rehabilitation
Dozens of houses collapse in Khari and Bermini as sinking ground devastates lives after heavy rains
Khari (Bantalab), Sep 13: Mohammad Javaid sits in despair under a fragile tent, struggling to comprehend how his dream home of just one and a half years collapsed into the earth. His family of six now survives under tarpaulins on farmland after land subsidence tore through Khari village in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Cracks started appearing in our houses after the rains stopped on September 3. Now, the land has sunk four to five feet deep, leaving over 20 houses completely damaged,” Javaid said with tears in his eyes.
The crisis is not confined to Khari alone. Across Jammu, land subsidence has been reported in at least 19 locations in Ramban, Kishtwar, Poonch, Reasi, and Kathua districts, leaving nearly 2,500–3,000 people displaced. Heavy rains and flash floods at the end of August have worsened the situation, triggering widespread fear and devastation.
Khari, known as the “green engine of Jammu,” now resembles an earthquake-hit zone, with collapsed roofs, cracked walls, and families huddled in makeshift tents. Villagers say the administration has provided temporary shelters, but the lack of electricity, water supply, and road connectivity has left them desperate for long-term rehabilitation.
“We barely escaped alive when the ground beneath our home sank by six feet. Every day, the land sinks more. We need relocation to safer places,” said 69-year-old Gulam Mohammad, who lost his house.
Mehram Bibi, another resident, recalled how her house sank within minutes, burying all her belongings. “We survive on Army rations and help from kind strangers. But how long can this continue? We demand rehabilitation,” she pleaded.
In Bermini, over 50 houses have either collapsed or developed deep cracks since August 30. Officials suspect excessive water saturation due to torrential rains caused the sinking. Experts are expected to assess the affected terrain, while security personnel have barred villagers from entering unsafe homes.
With cattle sheds destroyed, farmlands damaged, and families living in schools or open fields, residents say survival is becoming impossible. “We managed to save our lives, but we lost everything else. Rehabilitation is our only hope,” said Abdullah Hamid, whose cattle were buried alive in the subsidence.
For now, hundreds of displaced families across Khari, Bermini, and nearby panchayats continue to live in fear, praying the ground beneath their feet does not sink further.
