Authorities in Kalaban village of Mendhar sector, Poonch district, have begun relocating families after continuous land sinking and landslides damaged dozens of houses, leaving nearly 70 families affected since last Saturday.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mendhar, Imran Rashid Kataria, said the administration acted promptly on the instructions of the District Collector. “In Kalaban, the land has sunken, affecting 70 families. As soon as the administration was informed, the DC directed us to monitor the situation, relocate people to safer areas, and provide all necessary facilities,” he said.
According to officials, several families have taken shelter in relatives’ homes, while others were shifted to temporary camps where food and essentials are being provided. Measures have also been taken to safeguard livestock by relocating animals from vulnerable zones.
The land drift has caused massive damage, with 25 residential structures completely destroyed and 15–20 more developing deep cracks.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, who inspected the affected area on Tuesday, described the scale of destruction as severe. “The whole area has become unsafe… More than half of the village has been impacted. The government is standing with the people during this tough time, and instructions have been given to provide relief material immediately,” he told reporters.
In a separate development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Thard village in Udhampur to review ongoing restoration work on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), which had remained closed for around eight days following heavy rainfall-triggered landslides. He also interacted with affected families and assessed their well-being.
