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Due to land sinking, over 50 houses, electricity towers, a receiving station, and a vital link road in Ramban's Pernote village have been significantly damaged. Experts are attributing the issue to water seepage and human activity.

Poorly designed structures on relatively sensitive soil formation are supposed to be one contributing factor in the land Sinkage incident.

This incidence in Ramban district is not unique to the region; similar instances have been recorded in other districts as well.

#WATCH | Ramban, J&K: Due to the sinking of land for about 1 km at the Ramban-Gool road since last night, about 30 houses have been damaged in Pernote village, 6 Km from Ramban. pic.twitter.com/DEWjT4Vy9o

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

Despite professional studies, the underlying reason remains unknown, resulting in repeating instances year after year.

Speculation abounds, with some attributing the sinking of land to the “blasting of mountains for roads and tunnels, while others blame the development of hydroelectric facilities for water seepage into the mountains and consequent land sinking.” 

Experts, including famous geologists Prof Abdur Hafiz from AMU and Prof SK Pandita from the University of Jammu, point to water saturation as a major culprit. Heavy rainfall or groundwater penetration saturates the soil, lowering its stability and causing slope instability. 

According to Prof. Hafiz, human activities contribute to soil sinking on high slopes. He also said that “deforestation, construction projects, and poor land use practices might disrupt the slope's natural equilibrium, increasing its sensitivity to sinking.”

Experts suggest that water seepage is the cause of ground subsidence in the upper elevations of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prof. SK Pandita of the Department of Geology at the University of Jammu said, “Rainwater must have accumulated at someplace, and when that water accumulates above the soil capacity, hydrostatic pressure develops, causing land subsidence.”

Professor Irfan Bhat of the Geo-informatics Centre of the University of Kashmir said, “There is a need for smart urban land use projects. Because these areas are more prone to such catastrophic events, we require plans to ensure that land is used without disturbing the natural setting.”

Meanwhile, DC Ramban said, "The ground is still sinking, and efforts are underway to restore basic utilities like roads and power, which are our top priority. We will provide tents, other logistics, and medical camps for the victims.”

In February of last year, a ground sinking in DuksarDalwa hamlet in the Sangaldan region destroyed at least 16 houses and cut off road access between Gool and Ramban.