Srinagar: Authorities on Wednesday sealed three residential houses and evacuated the affected families to safer locations after a portion of land beneath them suddenly caved in at Zoonimar-Nowshera area of Srinagar last evening.
Three families comprising around 10 members had a miraculous escape after a portion of land caved in at Zoonimar locality in Nowshera area of the city, causing three residential houses to develop cracks.
A joint team of officials comprising J&K State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police headed by the Tehsildar concerned immediately rushed to the spot and ordered immediate sealing of the dwellings.
“We sent out the team right away as soon as we received the call. Actually, there is a deep hole close to the plinth area of one of the buildings where a section of the soil has caved in. Cracks have also appeared in the dwellings,” an SDRF officer told ‘Kashmir Images’.
All the three houses, he said, have been sealed and the families evacuated to safety, while the road leading to the affected area has also been closed off for the safety of the people.
The incident created chaos and confusion among the families, who urged the administration to save their property from getting damaged.
Administration is examining the situation, an official said, adding that the leakage in one of the houses might be the cause of the problem.
“Saving lives was our first priority; we have been closely monitoring the situation and may even move other families in the locality to safer locations, if, God forbid, the situation gets worse,” he added.
The incident according to the affected families took place around 4 pm last evening after a hollow section of land, they claimed, caved in abruptly.
“Three residential houses have been badly affected by the caving in of soil. Houses have developed deep cracks everywhere. We have moved to safer places while all three structures have been sealed by the administration,” Tajamul Farooq, whose house is among those affected, told ‘Kashmir Images’.
