Kalaban

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited Kalaban village in Poonch district to assess the damage caused by land subsidence in the border belt.

Kalaban in Mendhar tehsil, near the Line of Control (LoC), has been experiencing land subsidence since September 11. It has impacted over 1,000 people and damaged more than 95 houses, a graveyard and a mosque. Residents have been relocated to safe shelters.

Abdullah, who took a helicopter to reach the village, inspected various areas where land subsidence has damaged houses, roads and other infrastructure, officials said.

The chief minister met the affected people, listened to their grievances and assured them of full government support. He also directed officials to provide all necessary facilities for boarding and lodging.

He was briefed by officials, including Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sharma, and minister Javaid Rana, who is also the local MLA.

The officials said an elaborate presentation was made before the CM on the disaster and the measures taken by the administration in its aftermath.

Abdullah was informed that vehicles have been deployed for transporting people and their belongings from the affected areas, they said.

According to the officials, teams are conducting damage assessments to identify high-risk zones and mitigate further damage to life and property.

A temporary control room has been set up at the sub-division level to coordinate relief efforts through the administration, NGOs and volunteers, the officials said.

Abdullah was informed that 77 tents and 100 tarpaulin sheets have been provided to the displaced families for immediate relief. Relief camps have been established at panchayat ghars of Kalaban and Faizabad, they said.

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Kalaban is one of the 11 villages that faced land subsidence in Jammu, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts during the post-monsoon period, resulting in damage to over 200 houses and the displacement of more than 3,000 people.