At least 70 families were forced to flee their homes after massive land sinking destroyed and damaged over 60 houses in Kalaban village of Poonch district in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to Kashmir Media Service, the remote mountainous village in Mendhar has been witnessing continuous sinking of land for the past week, despite improvement in weather conditions. Officials confirmed that 28 houses were completely destroyed while 35 others developed dangerous cracks, rendering them uninhabitable. 

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mendhar, Imran Rashid Kataria, said dozens of kanals of land, one mosque, three schools and a graveyard have also been damaged in the incident. The displaced families have moved to the houses of relatives in safer locations.  The large-scale destruction has sparked fear among locals who said they have lost both their homes and livelihood. The calamity has once again exposed the vulnerability of mountain villages in IIOJK, where poor infrastructure and neglect by the authorities leave residents highly susceptible to natural disasters. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)